animal

'contributors' (adipobiology)
Written by WHINNY

Adipobiology (The Study of Fat in the Body): An Emerging Field

What exactly does stored fat do to a horse's body? It wreaks serious havoc on at least 11 vital body functions. Nat Messer, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, an associate professor of equine medicine and surgery at the University of Missouri (UM), presented a compelling discussion of the relatively new field of adipobiology--the study of fat and its causes and effects. He discussed a paper submitted by Philip Johnson, BVSc(Hons), MS, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ECEIM, MRCVS, professor of veterinary medicine and surgery at UM.

Excess body fat (both subcutaneous fat, such as the squishy stuff around a horse's tailhead, and visceral fat that accumulates near various internal organs) isn't just an unsightly way to store extra calories. Researchers are learning that fat--or adipose tissue as it's scientifically called--is much more active biochemically in many species than was previously thought (particularly visceral fat), noted Johnson in his paper. Fat produces more than 100 substances (collectively called adipokines or adipocytokines) that can affect:

• Lipid and glucose homeostasis (normal fat and glucose balance in the body);
• Inflammation;
• Hemostasis (control of bleeding);
• Osteogenesis (bone production);
• Hematopoiesis (formation and development of blood cells);
• Complement activities (complement is a sequence of proteins in the blood that work to help the animal respond to inflammatory and infectious challenges);
• Reproduction;
• Angiogenesis (development of blood vessels in tissue);
• Blood pressure; and
• Feeding behavior.

In horses, adipokine-mediated alteration of these body functions can cause or contribute to chronic inflammation, metabolic problems such as insulin resistance and possibly pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (Cushing's disease), circulatory (blood vessel) compromise, and increased risk of laminitis. Also, hyperglycemia (high blood sugar, which is common in horses with severe metabolic syndrome) has been shown to generate oxidative stress--the production of oxygen free radicals that can damage many kinds of tissues.

"In fact, adipokines have recently been claimed to represent the 'missing link' between IR (insulin resistance) and cardiovascular disease in humans," said Johnson. For example, he noted that the branch of the coronary artery passing through an area of fat storage is the one most likely to develop arthrosclerosis (progressive narrowing and hardening of the artery, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke). Local effects of hormones produced by that fat deposit have been implicated as the cause.

Obesity and Insulin Resistance

Even if a horse is fat, if he is insulin- resistant, the cells in his body that depend on insulin for glucose uptake (generally skeletal muscle cells, as well as liver and fat cells) are actually starved for energy--the glucose they should be getting from food metabolism. "Decreased movement of glucose into the cell through glucose transporters (GLUT-4 in this case) in the cell membrane ... is the first step that is defective in human insulin resistance," explained Johnson. This can occur when fatty acids in skeletal muscle directly inhibit insulin activation of glucose-transport activity, he noted.

Not all obese horses develop insulin resistance, and not all insulin-resistant horses are obese, noted Messer. "But IR- associated medical problems are more likely to develop in concert with obesity in individuals born with IR," he said. "Obesity may be an 'add-on' risk factor."

Obesity and Laminitis

"Compelling experimental data have been published to suggest that glucose is essential for the health and strength of the equine hoof-lamellar interface," noted Johnson. "Hemidesmosomes (HD) represent the important attachment link between keratinocytes (hoof wall cells) and the underlying lamellar basement membrane (attaching the coffin bone to the hoof wall). Keratinocyte glucose starvation (from the aforementioned decreased movement of glucose into the cells) may weaken HD, which leads to separation of the keratinocyte from the basement membrane. Situations associated with cell- glucose starvation, such as IR, might increase the risk for laminitis."

He noted that it remains to be seen whether hoof keratinocytes depend (to any extent) on insulin for their glucose supply; this information is currently unknown.

In obese horses insulin resistance might also contribute to widespread inflammation and, thus, vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels), which is the case in human metabolic syndrome, Johnson added. "By so doing, IR may, in turn, promote the risk of laminitis. The equine hoof-lamellar microvasculature is extremely sensitive to vasoconstrictors (anything that constricts blood vessels)," he explained. Therefore, adipokine-induced vasoconstriction would pose another pathway for causing laminitis in obese horses.

Glucocorticoids and Obesity

Additionally, glucocorticoids have been implicated as a cause of both laminitis and IR. "Our team has been interested in the role that glucocorticoids (corticosteroid drugs or hormones that are involved in carbohydrate metabolism and the body's response to stress) might play in terms of risk of laminitis," Johnson commented. "Newer work in humans suggests that glucocorticoids play a critical role in the development of visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome.

"Glucocorticoids also cause expansion of adipose tissues in the body," he noted. "If present in sufficient quantity (as in the obese state), locally generated cortisol (often called stress hormone) will both stimulate further local adipogenesis (fat deposition) and contribute to IR.

"Circumstances under which individuals might be influenced by the action of excess glucocorticoids include Cushing's syndrome, the administration of synthetic glucocorticoids for therapeutic purposes, and stress," he wrote.

Treating Obesity

Unfortunately, "Obesity in horses is often desirable to owners," said Messer.

"There clearly exists a need for objective criteria by which horses might be 'scored' in terms of whole-body adiposity (such as the body mass index used in human medicine)," Johnson noted.

He added that a major goal of adiposity research focuses on identifying therapeutic strategies that effectively reduce the ratio of pro-inflammatory (inflammation- causing), insulin-desensitizing adipokines to anti-inflammatory, insulin-sensitizing adipokines. Owners need to control obesity now by properly managing horses' diets and increasing exercise levels.

Messer summarized his presentation quite succinctly: "You've seen what fat cells can do today. Until we get rid of excessive fat cells, we'll have all kinds of problems."

Obesity and Insulin Resistance

Nicholas Frank, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor of large animal clinical sciences at the University of Tennessee, discussed the causes, clinical signs, and management of insulin resistance in horses, and its link to laminitis.

"Insulin resistance can be defined as failure of tissues to respond appropriately to insulin," said Frank. "Insulin is secreted by the pancreas to move glucose (sugar from digestion of food) into tissues when it's readily available (after meals)."

There are three types of insulin resistance. "Compensated IR is the most common form; this is when the pancreas secretes more insulin to achieve the same effect (hyperinsulinemia)," he explained. "Uncompensated IR is when pancreatic beta cells (the source of insulin) fail, so blood glucose concentrations rise and insulin levels are variable; this is fairly rare. An extremely rare event is Type 2 diabetes mellitus (caused by insufficient production of insulin or by resistance of target tissues to the effects of insulin), which describes advanced pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, or Cushing's). This results in hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and glucosuria (sugar in the urine)."

Insulin resistance is a part of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). Said Frank, "There are three criteria for identifying the horse with EMS: Insulin resistance, prior (founder lines) or current laminitis, and general obesity or regional adiposity (areas of abnormal fat deposition such as a cresty neck or fat pads near the tailhead). It has a genetic predisposition--the 'easy keeper,' or the horse that could stay fat on fresh air, is more likely to have EMS."

Insulin Resistance and Laminitis

There are three theories on why insulin resistance might contribute to laminitis:

1. It decreases the amount of glucose getting into hoof tissue cells, which could starve them and hamper their function.

2. Insulin resistance causes decreased peripheral vasodilation (contraction of blood vessels at the extremities, such as in the hoof). Decreased blood flow to the foot means less nutrition for the tissues and likely less healthy tissues.

3. When adipose tissues reach their capacity for fat storage, they can become stressed and release cytokines, causing a pro-inflammatory state. This could lower a horse's threshold for laminitis. Thus, a smaller trigger could cause laminitis--less of a carbohydrate overdose, for example.

Whatever its mechanism of action might be, insulin resistance has been linked to laminitis. Frank described a study of a Virginia pony herd that found insulin sensitivity could even predict laminitis: "Measuring their insulin sensitivity predicted laminitis would occur in 13 ponies, and it actually developed in 11 (85%). This was the first paper saying insulin sensitivity had something to do with laminitis."

The Role of Obesity in IR

"Not all obese individuals are insulin- resistant, and not all IR-affected horses are obese. But IR-associated medical problems are more likely to develop in concert with obesity in individuals born with IR," said Messer. "Thus, obesity may be an 'add-on' risk factor," much as obesity in humans contributes to diabetes.

"The obese 'easy keeper' is poorly defined scientifically," Frank said. "Presumably this characteristic is inherited as a difference in metabolism where the horse is able to maintain weight on fewer calories--he's evolutionarily adapted to live on less food in harsh conditions. When you take this adapted horse and put him on a high-carbohydrate diet (including good pasture), he tends to become obese. Grain can make it even worse.

The theory of how obesity contributes to insulin resistance is as follows, he said: "The accumulation of lipids (fat molecules or diacylg lycerol) in cells alters the normal signaling events within the cell. Skeletal muscle is the most susceptible to this. The theory is that as animal gets more obese, intracellular lipids interfere with insulin activity. Insulin resistance develops as lipids disrupt insulin receptors. Initially this is a reversible process, but chronic IR causes irreversible damage."

Hold the Grain, Please

Management of insulin resistance might lower the risk of laminitis, and one of the cornerstones of management is diet. "Think of these horses as being in a prediabetic state," Frank said. "They need to exercise more and take in less sugar."

He made these recommendations:

• Take obese horses off sweet feed, they don't need it anyway.
• Consider a grazing muzzle.
• Don't overfeed them.
• Feed hay lower in nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC; forage testing labs can tell you a hay's NSC content).
• Induce weight loss by feeding hay initially at 2% of the horse's current body weight, decreasing to 1.5% of current body weight, then finally dropping to 1.5% of ideal body weight.
• Consider pergolide treatment in horses with EMS to stave off PPID.
• Exercise horses to decrease weight.

If an insulin-resistant horse develops laminitis, Frank recommended the following management practices:

• Take the horse off pasture entirely-- remove some horses permanently, but most temporarily.
• Keep the horse in a dry lot.
• Hand-walk him for exercise once his feet are stabilized.
• If he's obese, feed low-sugar hay.
• If he's lean, feed hay plus a low-NSC feed.
• Consider strategic use of levothyroxine (generally used as replacement therapy in reduced or absent thyroid function) for three to six months in obese horses. However, "We are not treating hypothyroidism!" he stated. "That condition is extremely rare in horses. We are using it to accelerate metabolism (to decrease body weight)."

Frank said in an ongoing study, horses in a dry lot and given levothyroxine (Thyro-L; Lloyd Inc., Shenandoah, Iowa) lost an average of 62 kg, compared to 25 kg lost by horses in a dry lot without evothyroxine.

Take-Home Messages

The following facts should be considered if you have a horse that is showing signs of becoming overweight or having insulin resistance.

• Not all obese horses have EMS, and not all horses with EMS are obese.
• Diet and exercise are the main management and prevention strategies. Owners should avoid feeding concentrates and control affected or at-risk horses' exposure to pasture.
• Levothyroxine can be given to reduce body weight and increase insulin sensitivity for three to six months.

Cushing's Disease: Challenges of Diagnosis and Treatment

We know Cushing's disease (or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction--PPID--as it's more scientifically called), simply put, is an "old-horse disease" that results in metabolism disturbances and an abnormally heavy hair coat. But when it comes to testing and treatment, there are about as many opinions as there are people to ask. Luckily, Harold Schott, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of large animal clinical sciences at Michigan State University (MSU), discussed the challenges of PPID diagnosis and treatment.

"Owners have really pushed us to learn more about this disease," he began. "Unfortunately, I might not leave you with a totally clear picture, because a lot of what we know is still based on experience rather than scientific data."

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction describes altered activity of the pars intermedia lobe of the pituitary gland. Schott first described the prevalence of PPID clinical signs seen in various studies: hirsutism (excessive haircoat) 47-100% of affected horses; muscle wasting, 35-88%; chronic laminitis, 24-82%; polyuria/polydipsia (excessive urination and chronic, excessive thirst/intake of fluid), 17-76%; hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), 14-67%; abnormal fat deposition, 9-67%; chronic infections, 27-48%; lethargy, 43-82%; neurological signs, including seizures, 6-50%

"My subjective impression is that age at onset of clinical signs is important; the younger ones (at onset) do worse," said Schott.

"Laminitis is the clinical problem we deal with the most," he commented. "It's our main reason for looking at these horses. Here's take-home message #1: Evaluation for PPID is warranted in horses more than 15 years old that develop insidious (gradual) onset laminitis."

Diagnosing PPID

Unfortunately, no perfect PPID test (one that is 100% accurate with a single-sample test) yet exists. Schott noted that 11 tests are possible, from simple evaluation of clinical signs ("over-the-fence" diagnosis of hirsutism) to various measures of hormone levels in blood plasma and urine.

"The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) is considered by many to be the gold standard diagnostic test, probably because of experience with it rather than actual data," he commented. "It's the most widely accepted test, the samples are stable (less affected by variations in handling), and cortisol measurement is readily available (at labs)."

The test is based on the fact that one pituitary pars intermedia hormone product stimulates the adrenal glands to produce excess cortisol (often termed stress hormone).

Schott explained that the DST involves measuring cortisol, giving the horse dexamethasone (a steroid analogue that is used in this case to suppress cortisol stimulation from another lobe of the pituitary gland) in the late afternoon, then measuring plasma cortisol the next morning (15 and 19 hours after dexamethasone administration). Cortisol levels greater than 1 ug/dL at those times support a diagnosis of PPID.

Disadvantages: The DST requires three client visits (although the test can be modified to two visits), it is reported to exacerbate laminitis in rare cases (although Schott noted this observation is poorly documented), its results are not always repeatable, and it might miss early PPID.

He briefly discussed several other hormone tests and their accuracy levels, noting that researchers are finding significant seasonal variation in hormone levels and, thus, seasonal variation in test results, even on the same horses.

"Take-home message #2 is that seasonal variation complicates diagnostic testing--endocrine testing is not recommended from mid-August to mid-November because we have difficulty interpreting the results," he cautioned.

In addition to hormone testing, researchers often will evaluate pituitary gland tissue of research horses post-mortem to try to correlate histological (tissue) characteristics with hormone test results and clinical signs. Schott described a study that found lesions were common in both the pars intermedia and pars distalis regions of the pituitary gland. There was one other notable feature of the horses that were examined--they were all clinically normal.

"Based on this ('abnormal' tissue findings in horses that had no clinical signs of disease), I'm not sure histological examination is the way to go," he opined. "Take-home message #3 is that hirsutism is still the most accurate diagnostic feature (identifying 86% of affected horses). So why test horses further? To evaluate their response to treatment!"

Treating PPID

"Many cases do fine with management changes alone," said Schott. "This might include body clipping, regular hoof care, nutrition changes (such as reducing sugars and other rich carbohydrates), and good dental care to ensure proper eating for these older horses.

"Whether a horse needs medication and when that should be started is decided on an individual basis," he added. "When a horse is put on medications, I recommend twice-annual reassessment--clinical examination and glucose/endocrine (hormone) testing. If needed, we adjust medication dosing, then retest the horse in 30-60 days to make sure his (hormone) responses are in the appropriate range."

There's also the issue of the horse that is a possible PPID case, but it's between August and November, so testing is of little value (see take-home message #2). In these cases, "if the owner can afford it, we might treat the horse for a few months just in case, then try to take him off medications and test to see if it's truly warranted," Schott commented.

For confirmed cases, "Is continuous treatment required?" he asked the audience. "We don't really know. Epidemiological studies are hard enough, let alone following horses for 10 years (for the research needed to answer this question)."

Medication options for PPID include pergolide, cyproheptadine, trilostane, and chasteberry extract. One disadvantage is that no treatment is currently FDA-approved for PPID in horses.

Pergolide Schott described several studies that found this once daily medication to be a superior treatment in terms of improved hormone test results and owner assessment of improvement, although the latter might have also been due to improved management.

Disadvantages are that it's expensive (there's a cheaper compounded product available, but you have quality and liability concerns), it causes transient inappetence in some (less than 10% of horses), and it causes lethargy (depression) in rare cases, he said.

Cyproheptadine "This medication used to be less expensive than pergolide; now it's more expensive," Schott commented. Some have suggested that it might act synergistically with pergolide, but he said there were no studies proving this.

Disadvantages include limited efficacy, no pharmacological data, increasing price, and compounded product quality/liability concerns.

Trilostane This targets the adrenal gland to decrease cortisol production, so it could be used with pergolide, Schott commented. "It was shown to be effective in reversing clinical signs in one study in the United Kingdom," he added. "But adrenal cortex hyperplasia (overgrowth and overactivity) is not very common, so trilostane doesn't make sense as a front-line treatment (it doesn't address the pituitary gland dysfunction).

"Also, it's not approved for use in horses, not available in the United States, and pricey," he added.

Chasteberry extract (Vitex agnus castus) Schott reported that in one field study of this product, all owners reported improved demeanor, 22 of 120 horses had improved shedding, and no horses showed changes in hormone levels. In contrast, another study presented at the 2002 AAEP convention found that 13/14 horses deteriorated on the same product.

"Take-home message #4: Spend money on better management rather than questionable products," recommended Schott.

Understanding Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (a.k.a. Cushing's Disease)

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction--PPID, or Cushing's disease--is the most common disease of horses and ponies 15 years of age or older. Although it's not fully understood yet, researchers are learning more about how to treat and prevent it. Dianne McFarlane, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, assistant professor of physiological sciences at Oklahoma State University's Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, discussed normal and abnormal function of the pituitary pars intermedia lobe of the pituitary gland.

"The horse has three distinct lobes of his pituitary gland--the pars distalis, pars intermedia, and pars nervosa," she began. "Each produces different hormones."

The pars intermedia produces a protein called pro-opiomelanocortin POMC) that is converted into adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). This, in turn, is processed into several different hormones:

• Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), a potent anti-inflammatory hormone that plays a role in skin coloring, appetite/satiety balance, and fat metabolism.
• Beta-endorphin, an endogenous (originating within the body) opioid that provides analgesia and behavioral modification and suppresses immune responsiveness and vascular tone (the degree of blood vessel constriction).
• Corticotrophin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP), which stimulates insulin release.

Seasonality of Hormones

Season has been recently found to play a big role in secretion of some pars intermedia hormones in horses; this was already known in many other species (humans, hamsters, sheep, and weasels). Alpha-MSH levels are highest in the fall, coinciding with peak body weight, appetite, and body condition in sheep.

This seasonal increase might occur in horses and ponies as well, "to metabolically prepare them for a decrease in accessible food observed in the wild in winter," explained McFarlane. "If so, dysregulation of this pathway might be associated with abnormalities in body weight and fat storage." This might also explain the heavy haircoat of horses with PPID--it's literally a winter coat gone wild.

"Ponies show a much greater response to seasonal hormone changes than horses," she added.

Why is seasonality relevant? Given the increased activity of pars intermedia hormones in the fall, you're more likely to see clinical signs, false positive tests, and PPID-associated laminitis in fall, said McFarlane. This might have implications for treatment as well.

"It's possible that we might be able to treat affected horses (medically) in summer and fall when their hormones are highest, and wean them off medications in winter and spring," she theorized. "This is untested, but it's something to think about for mild cases."

What Causes PPID?

While several mechanisms for PPID have been proposed, McFarlane suggested that it is a neurodegenerative disease. This seems to be supported by the fact that her research has found almost no dopaminergic (dopamine-producing) neurons in the pars intermedia of affected horses, while there are quite a few in young horses or unaffected horses of similar age.

The lack of dopamine is critical, as she noted that the activity of the pars intermedia is normally inhibited (controlled) by dopamine. Without dopamine, the pars intermedia produces much more hormone than it should, causing the clinical signs of PPID.

Similar activity occurs in other species when dopamine is experimentally inhibited, she reported. This explains why the medication pergolide helps so many horses with PPID--it replaces dopamine activity and thus inhibits pars intermedia hormones.

It also explains why another popular treatment--trilostane--doesn't always work as well. McFarlane explained that trilostane acts on the adrenal gland to control secretion of cortisol hormone--"stress hormone." This helps control biochemical stress, but it doesn't act on the originating problem in the pars intermedia.

"I'm hesitant to recommend trilostane partially because it is only available compounded, and because it doesn't act against the inciting factor," she noted. "Pergolide treats in three ways: It protects neurons, adds dopamine, and has antioxidant activity."

Why would a horse's dopaminergic neurons degenerate? McFarlane speculated that oxidative stress, which is more prevalent in PPID horses, and misfolding of a protein called alpha-synuclein, a nerve terminal protein, might play large roles. Misfolding (improperly developing into a form other than its characteristic functional shape) of this protein can be caused by oxidative stress as well. An interesting side note is that this pathway of disease is the same as that proposed for Parkinson's disease in humans, and many biochemical features of Parkinson's closely resemble features of PPID in horses.

"Dopaminergic neurons are particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage, because dopamine metabolism itself produces free radicals (chemically active atoms or molecular fragments that are missing electrons and damage large molecules within cells while attempting to achieve a more stable configuration)," she commented. Other contributing factors might include inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction (altered activity in the parts of cells that produce energy for carrying out the cell's functions).

PPID Prevention

"I think obesity drives chronic stress, which is a risk factor for neurodegeneration," opined McFarlane. "If we're going to prevent disease, controlling obesity will be very important. Also measure selenium (an antioxidant mineral that horses need in small quantities) and address that if needed, and keep in mind that antioxidant therapy might slow progression of the disease.

"Mitochondrial dysfunction is known to be a contributing factor to Parkinson's disease, and agricultural chemical usage contributes to Parkinson's in humans--these chemicals might well affect horses too," she suggested. "Also, ponies and Morgans seem to be more susceptible to the disease. What that genetic factor is, we'll understand better with more research. Understanding the mechanisms of disease is essential to knowing how to prevent this disease in these animals."

---

'contributors' (adipobiology)
Written by WHINNY

Adipobiology (The Study of Fat in the Body): An Emerging Field

What exactly does stored fat do to a horse's body? It wreaks serious havoc on at least 11 vital body functions. Nat Messer, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, an associate professor of equine medicine and surgery at the University of Missouri (UM), presented a compelling discussion of the relatively new field of adipobiology--the study of fat and its causes and effects. He discussed a paper submitted by Philip Johnson, BVSc(Hons), MS, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ECEIM, MRCVS, professor of veterinary medicine and surgery at UM.

Excess body fat (both subcutaneous fat, such as the squishy stuff around a horse's tailhead, and visceral fat that accumulates near various internal organs) isn't just an unsightly way to store extra calories. Researchers are learning that fat--or adipose tissue as it's scientifically called--is much more active biochemically in many species than was previously thought (particularly visceral fat), noted Johnson in his paper. Fat produces more than 100 substances (collectively called adipokines or adipocytokines) that can affect:

• Lipid and glucose homeostasis (normal fat and glucose balance in the body);
• Inflammation;
• Hemostasis (control of bleeding);
• Osteogenesis (bone production);
• Hematopoiesis (formation and development of blood cells);
• Complement activities (complement is a sequence of proteins in the blood that work to help the animal respond to inflammatory and infectious challenges);
• Reproduction;
• Angiogenesis (development of blood vessels in tissue);
• Blood pressure; and
• Feeding behavior.

In horses, adipokine-mediated alteration of these body functions can cause or contribute to chronic inflammation, metabolic problems such as insulin resistance and possibly pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (Cushing's disease), circulatory (blood vessel) compromise, and increased risk of laminitis. Also, hyperglycemia (high blood sugar, which is common in horses with severe metabolic syndrome) has been shown to generate oxidative stress--the production of oxygen free radicals that can damage many kinds of tissues.

"In fact, adipokines have recently been claimed to represent the 'missing link' between IR (insulin resistance) and cardiovascular disease in humans," said Johnson. For example, he noted that the branch of the coronary artery passing through an area of fat storage is the one most likely to develop arthrosclerosis (progressive narrowing and hardening of the artery, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke). Local effects of hormones produced by that fat deposit have been implicated as the cause.

Obesity and Insulin Resistance

Even if a horse is fat, if he is insulin- resistant, the cells in his body that depend on insulin for glucose uptake (generally skeletal muscle cells, as well as liver and fat cells) are actually starved for energy--the glucose they should be getting from food metabolism. "Decreased movement of glucose into the cell through glucose transporters (GLUT-4 in this case) in the cell membrane ... is the first step that is defective in human insulin resistance," explained Johnson. This can occur when fatty acids in skeletal muscle directly inhibit insulin activation of glucose-transport activity, he noted.

Not all obese horses develop insulin resistance, and not all insulin-resistant horses are obese, noted Messer. "But IR- associated medical problems are more likely to develop in concert with obesity in individuals born with IR," he said. "Obesity may be an 'add-on' risk factor."

Obesity and Laminitis

"Compelling experimental data have been published to suggest that glucose is essential for the health and strength of the equine hoof-lamellar interface," noted Johnson. "Hemidesmosomes (HD) represent the important attachment link between keratinocytes (hoof wall cells) and the underlying lamellar basement membrane (attaching the coffin bone to the hoof wall). Keratinocyte glucose starvation (from the aforementioned decreased movement of glucose into the cells) may weaken HD, which leads to separation of the keratinocyte from the basement membrane. Situations associated with cell- glucose starvation, such as IR, might increase the risk for laminitis."

He noted that it remains to be seen whether hoof keratinocytes depend (to any extent) on insulin for their glucose supply; this information is currently unknown.

In obese horses insulin resistance might also contribute to widespread inflammation and, thus, vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels), which is the case in human metabolic syndrome, Johnson added. "By so doing, IR may, in turn, promote the risk of laminitis. The equine hoof-lamellar microvasculature is extremely sensitive to vasoconstrictors (anything that constricts blood vessels)," he explained. Therefore, adipokine-induced vasoconstriction would pose another pathway for causing laminitis in obese horses.

Glucocorticoids and Obesity

Additionally, glucocorticoids have been implicated as a cause of both laminitis and IR. "Our team has been interested in the role that glucocorticoids (corticosteroid drugs or hormones that are involved in carbohydrate metabolism and the body's response to stress) might play in terms of risk of laminitis," Johnson commented. "Newer work in humans suggests that glucocorticoids play a critical role in the development of visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome.

"Glucocorticoids also cause expansion of adipose tissues in the body," he noted. "If present in sufficient quantity (as in the obese state), locally generated cortisol (often called stress hormone) will both stimulate further local adipogenesis (fat deposition) and contribute to IR.

"Circumstances under which individuals might be influenced by the action of excess glucocorticoids include Cushing's syndrome, the administration of synthetic glucocorticoids for therapeutic purposes, and stress," he wrote.

Treating Obesity

Unfortunately, "Obesity in horses is often desirable to owners," said Messer.

"There clearly exists a need for objective criteria by which horses might be 'scored' in terms of whole-body adiposity (such as the body mass index used in human medicine)," Johnson noted.

He added that a major goal of adiposity research focuses on identifying therapeutic strategies that effectively reduce the ratio of pro-inflammatory (inflammation- causing), insulin-desensitizing adipokines to anti-inflammatory, insulin-sensitizing adipokines. Owners need to control obesity now by properly managing horses' diets and increasing exercise levels.

Messer summarized his presentation quite succinctly: "You've seen what fat cells can do today. Until we get rid of excessive fat cells, we'll have all kinds of problems."

Obesity and Insulin Resistance

Nicholas Frank, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor of large animal clinical sciences at the University of Tennessee, discussed the causes, clinical signs, and management of insulin resistance in horses, and its link to laminitis.

"Insulin resistance can be defined as failure of tissues to respond appropriately to insulin," said Frank. "Insulin is secreted by the pancreas to move glucose (sugar from digestion of food) into tissues when it's readily available (after meals)."

There are three types of insulin resistance. "Compensated IR is the most common form; this is when the pancreas secretes more insulin to achieve the same effect (hyperinsulinemia)," he explained. "Uncompensated IR is when pancreatic beta cells (the source of insulin) fail, so blood glucose concentrations rise and insulin levels are variable; this is fairly rare. An extremely rare event is Type 2 diabetes mellitus (caused by insufficient production of insulin or by resistance of target tissues to the effects of insulin), which describes advanced pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, or Cushing's). This results in hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and glucosuria (sugar in the urine)."

Insulin resistance is a part of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). Said Frank, "There are three criteria for identifying the horse with EMS: Insulin resistance, prior (founder lines) or current laminitis, and general obesity or regional adiposity (areas of abnormal fat deposition such as a cresty neck or fat pads near the tailhead). It has a genetic predisposition--the 'easy keeper,' or the horse that could stay fat on fresh air, is more likely to have EMS."

Insulin Resistance and Laminitis

There are three theories on why insulin resistance might contribute to laminitis:

1. It decreases the amount of glucose getting into hoof tissue cells, which could starve them and hamper their function.

2. Insulin resistance causes decreased peripheral vasodilation (contraction of blood vessels at the extremities, such as in the hoof). Decreased blood flow to the foot means less nutrition for the tissues and likely less healthy tissues.

3. When adipose tissues reach their capacity for fat storage, they can become stressed and release cytokines, causing a pro-inflammatory state. This could lower a horse's threshold for laminitis. Thus, a smaller trigger could cause laminitis--less of a carbohydrate overdose, for example.

Whatever its mechanism of action might be, insulin resistance has been linked to laminitis. Frank described a study of a Virginia pony herd that found insulin sensitivity could even predict laminitis: "Measuring their insulin sensitivity predicted laminitis would occur in 13 ponies, and it actually developed in 11 (85%). This was the first paper saying insulin sensitivity had something to do with laminitis."

The Role of Obesity in IR

"Not all obese individuals are insulin- resistant, and not all IR-affected horses are obese. But IR-associated medical problems are more likely to develop in concert with obesity in individuals born with IR," said Messer. "Thus, obesity may be an 'add-on' risk factor," much as obesity in humans contributes to diabetes.

"The obese 'easy keeper' is poorly defined scientifically," Frank said. "Presumably this characteristic is inherited as a difference in metabolism where the horse is able to maintain weight on fewer calories--he's evolutionarily adapted to live on less food in harsh conditions. When you take this adapted horse and put him on a high-carbohydrate diet (including good pasture), he tends to become obese. Grain can make it even worse.

The theory of how obesity contributes to insulin resistance is as follows, he said: "The accumulation of lipids (fat molecules or diacylg lycerol) in cells alters the normal signaling events within the cell. Skeletal muscle is the most susceptible to this. The theory is that as animal gets more obese, intracellular lipids interfere with insulin activity. Insulin resistance develops as lipids disrupt insulin receptors. Initially this is a reversible process, but chronic IR causes irreversible damage."

Hold the Grain, Please

Management of insulin resistance might lower the risk of laminitis, and one of the cornerstones of management is diet. "Think of these horses as being in a prediabetic state," Frank said. "They need to exercise more and take in less sugar."

He made these recommendations:

• Take obese horses off sweet feed, they don't need it anyway.
• Consider a grazing muzzle.
• Don't overfeed them.
• Feed hay lower in nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC; forage testing labs can tell you a hay's NSC content).
• Induce weight loss by feeding hay initially at 2% of the horse's current body weight, decreasing to 1.5% of current body weight, then finally dropping to 1.5% of ideal body weight.
• Consider pergolide treatment in horses with EMS to stave off PPID.
• Exercise horses to decrease weight.

If an insulin-resistant horse develops laminitis, Frank recommended the following management practices:

• Take the horse off pasture entirely-- remove some horses permanently, but most temporarily.
• Keep the horse in a dry lot.
• Hand-walk him for exercise once his feet are stabilized.
• If he's obese, feed low-sugar hay.
• If he's lean, feed hay plus a low-NSC feed.
• Consider strategic use of levothyroxine (generally used as replacement therapy in reduced or absent thyroid function) for three to six months in obese horses. However, "We are not treating hypothyroidism!" he stated. "That condition is extremely rare in horses. We are using it to accelerate metabolism (to decrease body weight)."

Frank said in an ongoing study, horses in a dry lot and given levothyroxine (Thyro-L; Lloyd Inc., Shenandoah, Iowa) lost an average of 62 kg, compared to 25 kg lost by horses in a dry lot without evothyroxine.

Take-Home Messages

The following facts should be considered if you have a horse that is showing signs of becoming overweight or having insulin resistance.

• Not all obese horses have EMS, and not all horses with EMS are obese.
• Diet and exercise are the main management and prevention strategies. Owners should avoid feeding concentrates and control affected or at-risk horses' exposure to pasture.
• Levothyroxine can be given to reduce body weight and increase insulin sensitivity for three to six months.

Cushing's Disease: Challenges of Diagnosis and Treatment

We know Cushing's disease (or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction--PPID--as it's more scientifically called), simply put, is an "old-horse disease" that results in metabolism disturbances and an abnormally heavy hair coat. But when it comes to testing and treatment, there are about as many opinions as there are people to ask. Luckily, Harold Schott, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of large animal clinical sciences at Michigan State University (MSU), discussed the challenges of PPID diagnosis and treatment.

"Owners have really pushed us to learn more about this disease," he began. "Unfortunately, I might not leave you with a totally clear picture, because a lot of what we know is still based on experience rather than scientific data."

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction describes altered activity of the pars intermedia lobe of the pituitary gland. Schott first described the prevalence of PPID clinical signs seen in various studies: hirsutism (excessive haircoat) 47-100% of affected horses; muscle wasting, 35-88%; chronic laminitis, 24-82%; polyuria/polydipsia (excessive urination and chronic, excessive thirst/intake of fluid), 17-76%; hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), 14-67%; abnormal fat deposition, 9-67%; chronic infections, 27-48%; lethargy, 43-82%; neurological signs, including seizures, 6-50%

"My subjective impression is that age at onset of clinical signs is important; the younger ones (at onset) do worse," said Schott.

"Laminitis is the clinical problem we deal with the most," he commented. "It's our main reason for looking at these horses. Here's take-home message #1: Evaluation for PPID is warranted in horses more than 15 years old that develop insidious (gradual) onset laminitis."

Diagnosing PPID

Unfortunately, no perfect PPID test (one that is 100% accurate with a single-sample test) yet exists. Schott noted that 11 tests are possible, from simple evaluation of clinical signs ("over-the-fence" diagnosis of hirsutism) to various measures of hormone levels in blood plasma and urine.

"The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) is considered by many to be the gold standard diagnostic test, probably because of experience with it rather than actual data," he commented. "It's the most widely accepted test, the samples are stable (less affected by variations in handling), and cortisol measurement is readily available (at labs)."

The test is based on the fact that one pituitary pars intermedia hormone product stimulates the adrenal glands to produce excess cortisol (often termed stress hormone).

Schott explained that the DST involves measuring cortisol, giving the horse dexamethasone (a steroid analogue that is used in this case to suppress cortisol stimulation from another lobe of the pituitary gland) in the late afternoon, then measuring plasma cortisol the next morning (15 and 19 hours after dexamethasone administration). Cortisol levels greater than 1 ug/dL at those times support a diagnosis of PPID.

Disadvantages: The DST requires three client visits (although the test can be modified to two visits), it is reported to exacerbate laminitis in rare cases (although Schott noted this observation is poorly documented), its results are not always repeatable, and it might miss early PPID.

He briefly discussed several other hormone tests and their accuracy levels, noting that researchers are finding significant seasonal variation in hormone levels and, thus, seasonal variation in test results, even on the same horses.

"Take-home message #2 is that seasonal variation complicates diagnostic testing--endocrine testing is not recommended from mid-August to mid-November because we have difficulty interpreting the results," he cautioned.

In addition to hormone testing, researchers often will evaluate pituitary gland tissue of research horses post-mortem to try to correlate histological (tissue) characteristics with hormone test results and clinical signs. Schott described a study that found lesions were common in both the pars intermedia and pars distalis regions of the pituitary gland. There was one other notable feature of the horses that were examined--they were all clinically normal.

"Based on this ('abnormal' tissue findings in horses that had no clinical signs of disease), I'm not sure histological examination is the way to go," he opined. "Take-home message #3 is that hirsutism is still the most accurate diagnostic feature (identifying 86% of affected horses). So why test horses further? To evaluate their response to treatment!"

Treating PPID

"Many cases do fine with management changes alone," said Schott. "This might include body clipping, regular hoof care, nutrition changes (such as reducing sugars and other rich carbohydrates), and good dental care to ensure proper eating for these older horses.

"Whether a horse needs medication and when that should be started is decided on an individual basis," he added. "When a horse is put on medications, I recommend twice-annual reassessment--clinical examination and glucose/endocrine (hormone) testing. If needed, we adjust medication dosing, then retest the horse in 30-60 days to make sure his (hormone) responses are in the appropriate range."

There's also the issue of the horse that is a possible PPID case, but it's between August and November, so testing is of little value (see take-home message #2). In these cases, "if the owner can afford it, we might treat the horse for a few months just in case, then try to take him off medications and test to see if it's truly warranted," Schott commented.

For confirmed cases, "Is continuous treatment required?" he asked the audience. "We don't really know. Epidemiological studies are hard enough, let alone following horses for 10 years (for the research needed to answer this question)."

Medication options for PPID include pergolide, cyproheptadine, trilostane, and chasteberry extract. One disadvantage is that no treatment is currently FDA-approved for PPID in horses.

Pergolide Schott described several studies that found this once daily medication to be a superior treatment in terms of improved hormone test results and owner assessment of improvement, although the latter might have also been due to improved management.

Disadvantages are that it's expensive (there's a cheaper compounded product available, but you have quality and liability concerns), it causes transient inappetence in some (less than 10% of horses), and it causes lethargy (depression) in rare cases, he said.

Cyproheptadine "This medication used to be less expensive than pergolide; now it's more expensive," Schott commented. Some have suggested that it might act synergistically with pergolide, but he said there were no studies proving this.

Disadvantages include limited efficacy, no pharmacological data, increasing price, and compounded product quality/liability concerns.

Trilostane This targets the adrenal gland to decrease cortisol production, so it could be used with pergolide, Schott commented. "It was shown to be effective in reversing clinical signs in one study in the United Kingdom," he added. "But adrenal cortex hyperplasia (overgrowth and overactivity) is not very common, so trilostane doesn't make sense as a front-line treatment (it doesn't address the pituitary gland dysfunction).

"Also, it's not approved for use in horses, not available in the United States, and pricey," he added.

Chasteberry extract (Vitex agnus castus) Schott reported that in one field study of this product, all owners reported improved demeanor, 22 of 120 horses had improved shedding, and no horses showed changes in hormone levels. In contrast, another study presented at the 2002 AAEP convention found that 13/14 horses deteriorated on the same product.

"Take-home message #4: Spend money on better management rather than questionable products," recommended Schott.

Understanding Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (a.k.a. Cushing's Disease)

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction--PPID, or Cushing's disease--is the most common disease of horses and ponies 15 years of age or older. Although it's not fully understood yet, researchers are learning more about how to treat and prevent it. Dianne McFarlane, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, assistant professor of physiological sciences at Oklahoma State University's Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, discussed normal and abnormal function of the pituitary pars intermedia lobe of the pituitary gland.

"The horse has three distinct lobes of his pituitary gland--the pars distalis, pars intermedia, and pars nervosa," she began. "Each produces different hormones."

The pars intermedia produces a protein called pro-opiomelanocortin POMC) that is converted into adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). This, in turn, is processed into several different hormones:

• Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), a potent anti-inflammatory hormone that plays a role in skin coloring, appetite/satiety balance, and fat metabolism.
• Beta-endorphin, an endogenous (originating within the body) opioid that provides analgesia and behavioral modification and suppresses immune responsiveness and vascular tone (the degree of blood vessel constriction).
• Corticotrophin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP), which stimulates insulin release.

Seasonality of Hormones

Season has been recently found to play a big role in secretion of some pars intermedia hormones in horses; this was already known in many other species (humans, hamsters, sheep, and weasels). Alpha-MSH levels are highest in the fall, coinciding with peak body weight, appetite, and body condition in sheep.

This seasonal increase might occur in horses and ponies as well, "to metabolically prepare them for a decrease in accessible food observed in the wild in winter," explained McFarlane. "If so, dysregulation of this pathway might be associated with abnormalities in body weight and fat storage." This might also explain the heavy haircoat of horses with PPID--it's literally a winter coat gone wild.

"Ponies show a much greater response to seasonal hormone changes than horses," she added.

Why is seasonality relevant? Given the increased activity of pars intermedia hormones in the fall, you're more likely to see clinical signs, false positive tests, and PPID-associated laminitis in fall, said McFarlane. This might have implications for treatment as well.

"It's possible that we might be able to treat affected horses (medically) in summer and fall when their hormones are highest, and wean them off medications in winter and spring," she theorized. "This is untested, but it's something to think about for mild cases."

What Causes PPID?

While several mechanisms for PPID have been proposed, McFarlane suggested that it is a neurodegenerative disease. This seems to be supported by the fact that her research has found almost no dopaminergic (dopamine-producing) neurons in the pars intermedia of affected horses, while there are quite a few in young horses or unaffected horses of similar age.

The lack of dopamine is critical, as she noted that the activity of the pars intermedia is normally inhibited (controlled) by dopamine. Without dopamine, the pars intermedia produces much more hormone than it should, causing the clinical signs of PPID.

Similar activity occurs in other species when dopamine is experimentally inhibited, she reported. This explains why the medication pergolide helps so many horses with PPID--it replaces dopamine activity and thus inhibits pars intermedia hormones.

It also explains why another popular treatment--trilostane--doesn't always work as well. McFarlane explained that trilostane acts on the adrenal gland to control secretion of cortisol hormone--"stress hormone." This helps control biochemical stress, but it doesn't act on the originating problem in the pars intermedia.

"I'm hesitant to recommend trilostane partially because it is only available compounded, and because it doesn't act against the inciting factor," she noted. "Pergolide treats in three ways: It protects neurons, adds dopamine, and has antioxidant activity."

Why would a horse's dopaminergic neurons degenerate? McFarlane speculated that oxidative stress, which is more prevalent in PPID horses, and misfolding of a protein called alpha-synuclein, a nerve terminal protein, might play large roles. Misfolding (improperly developing into a form other than its characteristic functional shape) of this protein can be caused by oxidative stress as well. An interesting side note is that this pathway of disease is the same as that proposed for Parkinson's disease in humans, and many biochemical features of Parkinson's closely resemble features of PPID in horses.

"Dopaminergic neurons are particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage, because dopamine metabolism itself produces free radicals (chemically active atoms or molecular fragments that are missing electrons and damage large molecules within cells while attempting to achieve a more stable configuration)," she commented. Other contributing factors might include inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction (altered activity in the parts of cells that produce energy for carrying out the cell's functions).

PPID Prevention

"I think obesity drives chronic stress, which is a risk factor for neurodegeneration," opined McFarlane. "If we're going to prevent disease, controlling obesity will be very important. Also measure selenium (an antioxidant mineral that horses need in small quantities) and address that if needed, and keep in mind that antioxidant therapy might slow progression of the disease.

"Mitochondrial dysfunction is known to be a contributing factor to Parkinson's disease, and agricultural chemical usage contributes to Parkinson's in humans--these chemicals might well affect horses too," she suggested. "Also, ponies and Morgans seem to be more susceptible to the disease. What that genetic factor is, we'll understand better with more research. Understanding the mechanisms of disease is essential to knowing how to prevent this disease in these animals."

---

'contributors' (adipobiology)
Written by WHINNY

Adipobiology (The Study of Fat in the Body): An Emerging Field

What exactly does stored fat do to a horse's body? It wreaks serious havoc on at least 11 vital body functions. Nat Messer, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, an associate professor of equine medicine and surgery at the University of Missouri (UM), presented a compelling discussion of the relatively new field of adipobiology--the study of fat and its causes and effects. He discussed a paper submitted by Philip Johnson, BVSc(Hons), MS, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ECEIM, MRCVS, professor of veterinary medicine and surgery at UM.

Excess body fat (both subcutaneous fat, such as the squishy stuff around a horse's tailhead, and visceral fat that accumulates near various internal organs) isn't just an unsightly way to store extra calories. Researchers are learning that fat--or adipose tissue as it's scientifically called--is much more active biochemically in many species than was previously thought (particularly visceral fat), noted Johnson in his paper. Fat produces more than 100 substances (collectively called adipokines or adipocytokines) that can affect:

• Lipid and glucose homeostasis (normal fat and glucose balance in the body);
• Inflammation;
• Hemostasis (control of bleeding);
• Osteogenesis (bone production);
• Hematopoiesis (formation and development of blood cells);
• Complement activities (complement is a sequence of proteins in the blood that work to help the animal respond to inflammatory and infectious challenges);
• Reproduction;
• Angiogenesis (development of blood vessels in tissue);
• Blood pressure; and
• Feeding behavior.

In horses, adipokine-mediated alteration of these body functions can cause or contribute to chronic inflammation, metabolic problems such as insulin resistance and possibly pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (Cushing's disease), circulatory (blood vessel) compromise, and increased risk of laminitis. Also, hyperglycemia (high blood sugar, which is common in horses with severe metabolic syndrome) has been shown to generate oxidative stress--the production of oxygen free radicals that can damage many kinds of tissues.

"In fact, adipokines have recently been claimed to represent the 'missing link' between IR (insulin resistance) and cardiovascular disease in humans," said Johnson. For example, he noted that the branch of the coronary artery passing through an area of fat storage is the one most likely to develop arthrosclerosis (progressive narrowing and hardening of the artery, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke). Local effects of hormones produced by that fat deposit have been implicated as the cause.

Obesity and Insulin Resistance

Even if a horse is fat, if he is insulin- resistant, the cells in his body that depend on insulin for glucose uptake (generally skeletal muscle cells, as well as liver and fat cells) are actually starved for energy--the glucose they should be getting from food metabolism. "Decreased movement of glucose into the cell through glucose transporters (GLUT-4 in this case) in the cell membrane ... is the first step that is defective in human insulin resistance," explained Johnson. This can occur when fatty acids in skeletal muscle directly inhibit insulin activation of glucose-transport activity, he noted.

Not all obese horses develop insulin resistance, and not all insulin-resistant horses are obese, noted Messer. "But IR- associated medical problems are more likely to develop in concert with obesity in individuals born with IR," he said. "Obesity may be an 'add-on' risk factor."

Obesity and Laminitis

"Compelling experimental data have been published to suggest that glucose is essential for the health and strength of the equine hoof-lamellar interface," noted Johnson. "Hemidesmosomes (HD) represent the important attachment link between keratinocytes (hoof wall cells) and the underlying lamellar basement membrane (attaching the coffin bone to the hoof wall). Keratinocyte glucose starvation (from the aforementioned decreased movement of glucose into the cells) may weaken HD, which leads to separation of the keratinocyte from the basement membrane. Situations associated with cell- glucose starvation, such as IR, might increase the risk for laminitis."

He noted that it remains to be seen whether hoof keratinocytes depend (to any extent) on insulin for their glucose supply; this information is currently unknown.

In obese horses insulin resistance might also contribute to widespread inflammation and, thus, vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels), which is the case in human metabolic syndrome, Johnson added. "By so doing, IR may, in turn, promote the risk of laminitis. The equine hoof-lamellar microvasculature is extremely sensitive to vasoconstrictors (anything that constricts blood vessels)," he explained. Therefore, adipokine-induced vasoconstriction would pose another pathway for causing laminitis in obese horses.

Glucocorticoids and Obesity

Additionally, glucocorticoids have been implicated as a cause of both laminitis and IR. "Our team has been interested in the role that glucocorticoids (corticosteroid drugs or hormones that are involved in carbohydrate metabolism and the body's response to stress) might play in terms of risk of laminitis," Johnson commented. "Newer work in humans suggests that glucocorticoids play a critical role in the development of visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome.

"Glucocorticoids also cause expansion of adipose tissues in the body," he noted. "If present in sufficient quantity (as in the obese state), locally generated cortisol (often called stress hormone) will both stimulate further local adipogenesis (fat deposition) and contribute to IR.

"Circumstances under which individuals might be influenced by the action of excess glucocorticoids include Cushing's syndrome, the administration of synthetic glucocorticoids for therapeutic purposes, and stress," he wrote.

Treating Obesity

Unfortunately, "Obesity in horses is often desirable to owners," said Messer.

"There clearly exists a need for objective criteria by which horses might be 'scored' in terms of whole-body adiposity (such as the body mass index used in human medicine)," Johnson noted.

He added that a major goal of adiposity research focuses on identifying therapeutic strategies that effectively reduce the ratio of pro-inflammatory (inflammation- causing), insulin-desensitizing adipokines to anti-inflammatory, insulin-sensitizing adipokines. Owners need to control obesity now by properly managing horses' diets and increasing exercise levels.

Messer summarized his presentation quite succinctly: "You've seen what fat cells can do today. Until we get rid of excessive fat cells, we'll have all kinds of problems."

Obesity and Insulin Resistance

Nicholas Frank, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor of large animal clinical sciences at the University of Tennessee, discussed the causes, clinical signs, and management of insulin resistance in horses, and its link to laminitis.

"Insulin resistance can be defined as failure of tissues to respond appropriately to insulin," said Frank. "Insulin is secreted by the pancreas to move glucose (sugar from digestion of food) into tissues when it's readily available (after meals)."

There are three types of insulin resistance. "Compensated IR is the most common form; this is when the pancreas secretes more insulin to achieve the same effect (hyperinsulinemia)," he explained. "Uncompensated IR is when pancreatic beta cells (the source of insulin) fail, so blood glucose concentrations rise and insulin levels are variable; this is fairly rare. An extremely rare event is Type 2 diabetes mellitus (caused by insufficient production of insulin or by resistance of target tissues to the effects of insulin), which describes advanced pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, or Cushing's). This results in hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and glucosuria (sugar in the urine)."

Insulin resistance is a part of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). Said Frank, "There are three criteria for identifying the horse with EMS: Insulin resistance, prior (founder lines) or current laminitis, and general obesity or regional adiposity (areas of abnormal fat deposition such as a cresty neck or fat pads near the tailhead). It has a genetic predisposition--the 'easy keeper,' or the horse that could stay fat on fresh air, is more likely to have EMS."

Insulin Resistance and Laminitis

There are three theories on why insulin resistance might contribute to laminitis:

1. It decreases the amount of glucose getting into hoof tissue cells, which could starve them and hamper their function.

2. Insulin resistance causes decreased peripheral vasodilation (contraction of blood vessels at the extremities, such as in the hoof). Decreased blood flow to the foot means less nutrition for the tissues and likely less healthy tissues.

3. When adipose tissues reach their capacity for fat storage, they can become stressed and release cytokines, causing a pro-inflammatory state. This could lower a horse's threshold for laminitis. Thus, a smaller trigger could cause laminitis--less of a carbohydrate overdose, for example.

Whatever its mechanism of action might be, insulin resistance has been linked to laminitis. Frank described a study of a Virginia pony herd that found insulin sensitivity could even predict laminitis: "Measuring their insulin sensitivity predicted laminitis would occur in 13 ponies, and it actually developed in 11 (85%). This was the first paper saying insulin sensitivity had something to do with laminitis."

The Role of Obesity in IR

"Not all obese individuals are insulin- resistant, and not all IR-affected horses are obese. But IR-associated medical problems are more likely to develop in concert with obesity in individuals born with IR," said Messer. "Thus, obesity may be an 'add-on' risk factor," much as obesity in humans contributes to diabetes.

"The obese 'easy keeper' is poorly defined scientifically," Frank said. "Presumably this characteristic is inherited as a difference in metabolism where the horse is able to maintain weight on fewer calories--he's evolutionarily adapted to live on less food in harsh conditions. When you take this adapted horse and put him on a high-carbohydrate diet (including good pasture), he tends to become obese. Grain can make it even worse.

The theory of how obesity contributes to insulin resistance is as follows, he said: "The accumulation of lipids (fat molecules or diacylg lycerol) in cells alters the normal signaling events within the cell. Skeletal muscle is the most susceptible to this. The theory is that as animal gets more obese, intracellular lipids interfere with insulin activity. Insulin resistance develops as lipids disrupt insulin receptors. Initially this is a reversible process, but chronic IR causes irreversible damage."

Hold the Grain, Please

Management of insulin resistance might lower the risk of laminitis, and one of the cornerstones of management is diet. "Think of these horses as being in a prediabetic state," Frank said. "They need to exercise more and take in less sugar."

He made these recommendations:

• Take obese horses off sweet feed, they don't need it anyway.
• Consider a grazing muzzle.
• Don't overfeed them.
• Feed hay lower in nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC; forage testing labs can tell you a hay's NSC content).
• Induce weight loss by feeding hay initially at 2% of the horse's current body weight, decreasing to 1.5% of current body weight, then finally dropping to 1.5% of ideal body weight.
• Consider pergolide treatment in horses with EMS to stave off PPID.
• Exercise horses to decrease weight.

If an insulin-resistant horse develops laminitis, Frank recommended the following management practices:

• Take the horse off pasture entirely-- remove some horses permanently, but most temporarily.
• Keep the horse in a dry lot.
• Hand-walk him for exercise once his feet are stabilized.
• If he's obese, feed low-sugar hay.
• If he's lean, feed hay plus a low-NSC feed.
• Consider strategic use of levothyroxine (generally used as replacement therapy in reduced or absent thyroid function) for three to six months in obese horses. However, "We are not treating hypothyroidism!" he stated. "That condition is extremely rare in horses. We are using it to accelerate metabolism (to decrease body weight)."

Frank said in an ongoing study, horses in a dry lot and given levothyroxine (Thyro-L; Lloyd Inc., Shenandoah, Iowa) lost an average of 62 kg, compared to 25 kg lost by horses in a dry lot without evothyroxine.

Take-Home Messages

The following facts should be considered if you have a horse that is showing signs of becoming overweight or having insulin resistance.

• Not all obese horses have EMS, and not all horses with EMS are obese.
• Diet and exercise are the main management and prevention strategies. Owners should avoid feeding concentrates and control affected or at-risk horses' exposure to pasture.
• Levothyroxine can be given to reduce body weight and increase insulin sensitivity for three to six months.

Cushing's Disease: Challenges of Diagnosis and Treatment

We know Cushing's disease (or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction--PPID--as it's more scientifically called), simply put, is an "old-horse disease" that results in metabolism disturbances and an abnormally heavy hair coat. But when it comes to testing and treatment, there are about as many opinions as there are people to ask. Luckily, Harold Schott, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of large animal clinical sciences at Michigan State University (MSU), discussed the challenges of PPID diagnosis and treatment.

"Owners have really pushed us to learn more about this disease," he began. "Unfortunately, I might not leave you with a totally clear picture, because a lot of what we know is still based on experience rather than scientific data."

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction describes altered activity of the pars intermedia lobe of the pituitary gland. Schott first described the prevalence of PPID clinical signs seen in various studies: hirsutism (excessive haircoat) 47-100% of affected horses; muscle wasting, 35-88%; chronic laminitis, 24-82%; polyuria/polydipsia (excessive urination and chronic, excessive thirst/intake of fluid), 17-76%; hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), 14-67%; abnormal fat deposition, 9-67%; chronic infections, 27-48%; lethargy, 43-82%; neurological signs, including seizures, 6-50%

"My subjective impression is that age at onset of clinical signs is important; the younger ones (at onset) do worse," said Schott.

"Laminitis is the clinical problem we deal with the most," he commented. "It's our main reason for looking at these horses. Here's take-home message #1: Evaluation for PPID is warranted in horses more than 15 years old that develop insidious (gradual) onset laminitis."

Diagnosing PPID

Unfortunately, no perfect PPID test (one that is 100% accurate with a single-sample test) yet exists. Schott noted that 11 tests are possible, from simple evaluation of clinical signs ("over-the-fence" diagnosis of hirsutism) to various measures of hormone levels in blood plasma and urine.

"The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) is considered by many to be the gold standard diagnostic test, probably because of experience with it rather than actual data," he commented. "It's the most widely accepted test, the samples are stable (less affected by variations in handling), and cortisol measurement is readily available (at labs)."

The test is based on the fact that one pituitary pars intermedia hormone product stimulates the adrenal glands to produce excess cortisol (often termed stress hormone).

Schott explained that the DST involves measuring cortisol, giving the horse dexamethasone (a steroid analogue that is used in this case to suppress cortisol stimulation from another lobe of the pituitary gland) in the late afternoon, then measuring plasma cortisol the next morning (15 and 19 hours after dexamethasone administration). Cortisol levels greater than 1 ug/dL at those times support a diagnosis of PPID.

Disadvantages: The DST requires three client visits (although the test can be modified to two visits), it is reported to exacerbate laminitis in rare cases (although Schott noted this observation is poorly documented), its results are not always repeatable, and it might miss early PPID.

He briefly discussed several other hormone tests and their accuracy levels, noting that researchers are finding significant seasonal variation in hormone levels and, thus, seasonal variation in test results, even on the same horses.

"Take-home message #2 is that seasonal variation complicates diagnostic testing--endocrine testing is not recommended from mid-August to mid-November because we have difficulty interpreting the results," he cautioned.

In addition to hormone testing, researchers often will evaluate pituitary gland tissue of research horses post-mortem to try to correlate histological (tissue) characteristics with hormone test results and clinical signs. Schott described a study that found lesions were common in both the pars intermedia and pars distalis regions of the pituitary gland. There was one other notable feature of the horses that were examined--they were all clinically normal.

"Based on this ('abnormal' tissue findings in horses that had no clinical signs of disease), I'm not sure histological examination is the way to go," he opined. "Take-home message #3 is that hirsutism is still the most accurate diagnostic feature (identifying 86% of affected horses). So why test horses further? To evaluate their response to treatment!"

Treating PPID

"Many cases do fine with management changes alone," said Schott. "This might include body clipping, regular hoof care, nutrition changes (such as reducing sugars and other rich carbohydrates), and good dental care to ensure proper eating for these older horses.

"Whether a horse needs medication and when that should be started is decided on an individual basis," he added. "When a horse is put on medications, I recommend twice-annual reassessment--clinical examination and glucose/endocrine (hormone) testing. If needed, we adjust medication dosing, then retest the horse in 30-60 days to make sure his (hormone) responses are in the appropriate range."

There's also the issue of the horse that is a possible PPID case, but it's between August and November, so testing is of little value (see take-home message #2). In these cases, "if the owner can afford it, we might treat the horse for a few months just in case, then try to take him off medications and test to see if it's truly warranted," Schott commented.

For confirmed cases, "Is continuous treatment required?" he asked the audience. "We don't really know. Epidemiological studies are hard enough, let alone following horses for 10 years (for the research needed to answer this question)."

Medication options for PPID include pergolide, cyproheptadine, trilostane, and chasteberry extract. One disadvantage is that no treatment is currently FDA-approved for PPID in horses.

Pergolide Schott described several studies that found this once daily medication to be a superior treatment in terms of improved hormone test results and owner assessment of improvement, although the latter might have also been due to improved management.

Disadvantages are that it's expensive (there's a cheaper compounded product available, but you have quality and liability concerns), it causes transient inappetence in some (less than 10% of horses), and it causes lethargy (depression) in rare cases, he said.

Cyproheptadine "This medication used to be less expensive than pergolide; now it's more expensive," Schott commented. Some have suggested that it might act synergistically with pergolide, but he said there were no studies proving this.

Disadvantages include limited efficacy, no pharmacological data, increasing price, and compounded product quality/liability concerns.

Trilostane This targets the adrenal gland to decrease cortisol production, so it could be used with pergolide, Schott commented. "It was shown to be effective in reversing clinical signs in one study in the United Kingdom," he added. "But adrenal cortex hyperplasia (overgrowth and overactivity) is not very common, so trilostane doesn't make sense as a front-line treatment (it doesn't address the pituitary gland dysfunction).

"Also, it's not approved for use in horses, not available in the United States, and pricey," he added.

Chasteberry extract (Vitex agnus castus) Schott reported that in one field study of this product, all owners reported improved demeanor, 22 of 120 horses had improved shedding, and no horses showed changes in hormone levels. In contrast, another study presented at the 2002 AAEP convention found that 13/14 horses deteriorated on the same product.

"Take-home message #4: Spend money on better management rather than questionable products," recommended Schott.

Understanding Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (a.k.a. Cushing's Disease)

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction--PPID, or Cushing's disease--is the most common disease of horses and ponies 15 years of age or older. Although it's not fully understood yet, researchers are learning more about how to treat and prevent it. Dianne McFarlane, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, assistant professor of physiological sciences at Oklahoma State University's Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, discussed normal and abnormal function of the pituitary pars intermedia lobe of the pituitary gland.

"The horse has three distinct lobes of his pituitary gland--the pars distalis, pars intermedia, and pars nervosa," she began. "Each produces different hormones."

The pars intermedia produces a protein called pro-opiomelanocortin POMC) that is converted into adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). This, in turn, is processed into several different hormones:

• Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), a potent anti-inflammatory hormone that plays a role in skin coloring, appetite/satiety balance, and fat metabolism.
• Beta-endorphin, an endogenous (originating within the body) opioid that provides analgesia and behavioral modification and suppresses immune responsiveness and vascular tone (the degree of blood vessel constriction).
• Corticotrophin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP), which stimulates insulin release.

Seasonality of Hormones

Season has been recently found to play a big role in secretion of some pars intermedia hormones in horses; this was already known in many other species (humans, hamsters, sheep, and weasels). Alpha-MSH levels are highest in the fall, coinciding with peak body weight, appetite, and body condition in sheep.

This seasonal increase might occur in horses and ponies as well, "to metabolically prepare them for a decrease in accessible food observed in the wild in winter," explained McFarlane. "If so, dysregulation of this pathway might be associated with abnormalities in body weight and fat storage." This might also explain the heavy haircoat of horses with PPID--it's literally a winter coat gone wild.

"Ponies show a much greater response to seasonal hormone changes than horses," she added.

Why is seasonality relevant? Given the increased activity of pars intermedia hormones in the fall, you're more likely to see clinical signs, false positive tests, and PPID-associated laminitis in fall, said McFarlane. This might have implications for treatment as well.

"It's possible that we might be able to treat affected horses (medically) in summer and fall when their hormones are highest, and wean them off medications in winter and spring," she theorized. "This is untested, but it's something to think about for mild cases."

What Causes PPID?

While several mechanisms for PPID have been proposed, McFarlane suggested that it is a neurodegenerative disease. This seems to be supported by the fact that her research has found almost no dopaminergic (dopamine-producing) neurons in the pars intermedia of affected horses, while there are quite a few in young horses or unaffected horses of similar age.

The lack of dopamine is critical, as she noted that the activity of the pars intermedia is normally inhibited (controlled) by dopamine. Without dopamine, the pars intermedia produces much more hormone than it should, causing the clinical signs of PPID.

Similar activity occurs in other species when dopamine is experimentally inhibited, she reported. This explains why the medication pergolide helps so many horses with PPID--it replaces dopamine activity and thus inhibits pars intermedia hormones.

It also explains why another popular treatment--trilostane--doesn't always work as well. McFarlane explained that trilostane acts on the adrenal gland to control secretion of cortisol hormone--"stress hormone." This helps control biochemical stress, but it doesn't act on the originating problem in the pars intermedia.

"I'm hesitant to recommend trilostane partially because it is only available compounded, and because it doesn't act against the inciting factor," she noted. "Pergolide treats in three ways: It protects neurons, adds dopamine, and has antioxidant activity."

Why would a horse's dopaminergic neurons degenerate? McFarlane speculated that oxidative stress, which is more prevalent in PPID horses, and misfolding of a protein called alpha-synuclein, a nerve terminal protein, might play large roles. Misfolding (improperly developing into a form other than its characteristic functional shape) of this protein can be caused by oxidative stress as well. An interesting side note is that this pathway of disease is the same as that proposed for Parkinson's disease in humans, and many biochemical features of Parkinson's closely resemble features of PPID in horses.

"Dopaminergic neurons are particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage, because dopamine metabolism itself produces free radicals (chemically active atoms or molecular fragments that are missing electrons and damage large molecules within cells while attempting to achieve a more stable configuration)," she commented. Other contributing factors might include inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction (altered activity in the parts of cells that produce energy for carrying out the cell's functions).

PPID Prevention

"I think obesity drives chronic stress, which is a risk factor for neurodegeneration," opined McFarlane. "If we're going to prevent disease, controlling obesity will be very important. Also measure selenium (an antioxidant mineral that horses need in small quantities) and address that if needed, and keep in mind that antioxidant therapy might slow progression of the disease.

"Mitochondrial dysfunction is known to be a contributing factor to Parkinson's disease, and agricultural chemical usage contributes to Parkinson's in humans--these chemicals might well affect horses too," she suggested. "Also, ponies and Morgans seem to be more susceptible to the disease. What that genetic factor is, we'll understand better with more research. Understanding the mechanisms of disease is essential to knowing how to prevent this disease in these animals."

---

ARE YOU READY FOR A DISASTER???
Written by WHINNY

Disasters can happen anytime and anywhere and can take many different forms, from barn fires to earthquakes, from a propane line explosion to flooding from a violent storm. Any of these might necessitate evacuation. If you have horses or other large animals, it is important to have a plan to move your animals to a safe area. A plan is even more critical if you have a large group of animals.

During an emergency, the time you have to evacuate your horses will be limited. If you are unprepared or wait until the last minute to evacuate, emergency management officials could tell you that you must leave your horses behind. Once you leave your property, you have no way of knowing how long you will be kept out of the area. If left behind, your horses could be untended for days without care, food or water. To help avoid this situation, the following information and suggestions are offered by the Humane Society of the United States for planning for emergencies. With an effective emergency plan, you might have enough time to move your animals to safety.

---

ARE YOU READY FOR A DISASTER???
Written by WHINNY

Disasters can happen anytime and anywhere and can take many different forms, from barn fires to earthquakes, from a propane line explosion to flooding from a violent storm. Any of these might necessitate evacuation. If you have horses or other large animals, it is important to have a plan to move your animals to a safe area. A plan is even more critical if you have a large group of animals.

During an emergency, the time you have to evacuate your horses will be limited. If you are unprepared or wait until the last minute to evacuate, emergency management officials could tell you that you must leave your horses behind. Once you leave your property, you have no way of knowing how long you will be kept out of the area. If left behind, your horses could be untended for days without care, food or water. To help avoid this situation, the following information and suggestions are offered by the Humane Society of the United States for planning for emergencies. With an effective emergency plan, you might have enough time to move your animals to safety.

---

ARE YOU READY FOR A DISASTER???
Written by WHINNY

Disasters can happen anytime and anywhere and can take many different forms, from barn fires to earthquakes, from a propane line explosion to flooding from a violent storm. Any of these might necessitate evacuation. If you have horses or other large animals, it is important to have a plan to move your animals to a safe area. A plan is even more critical if you have a large group of animals.

During an emergency, the time you have to evacuate your horses will be limited. If you are unprepared or wait until the last minute to evacuate, emergency management officials could tell you that you must leave your horses behind. Once you leave your property, you have no way of knowing how long you will be kept out of the area. If left behind, your horses could be untended for days without care, food or water. To help avoid this situation, the following information and suggestions are offered by the Humane Society of the United States for planning for emergencies. With an effective emergency plan, you might have enough time to move your animals to safety.

---

WILD HORSE BURRO ROUNDUP
Written by WHINNY

America's Wild Horse Advocates try to halt the BLM's herd management program

A Las Vegas federal judge has refused to stop the U.S. Bureau of Land Management from rounding up wild horses and burros Tuesday in the Spring Mountains west of Las Vegas.

America's Wild Horse Advocates filed an emergency motion earlier this week and argued that the federal government's environmental assessment report, which led to the gathering, was "flawed, inaccurate, and lacks a solid grounding in legitimate rangeland science."

 

---

WILD HORSE BURRO ROUNDUP
Written by WHINNY

America's Wild Horse Advocates try to halt the BLM's herd management program

A Las Vegas federal judge has refused to stop the U.S. Bureau of Land Management from rounding up wild horses and burros Tuesday in the Spring Mountains west of Las Vegas.

America's Wild Horse Advocates filed an emergency motion earlier this week and argued that the federal government's environmental assessment report, which led to the gathering, was "flawed, inaccurate, and lacks a solid grounding in legitimate rangeland science."

 

---

WILD HORSE BURRO ROUNDUP
Written by WHINNY

America's Wild Horse Advocates try to halt the BLM's herd management program

A Las Vegas federal judge has refused to stop the U.S. Bureau of Land Management from rounding up wild horses and burros Tuesday in the Spring Mountains west of Las Vegas.

America's Wild Horse Advocates filed an emergency motion earlier this week and argued that the federal government's environmental assessment report, which led to the gathering, was "flawed, inaccurate, and lacks a solid grounding in legitimate rangeland science."

 

---

WILD HORSE BURRO ROUNDUP
Written by WHINNY

America's Wild Horse Advocates try to halt the BLM's herd management program

A Las Vegas federal judge has refused to stop the U.S. Bureau of Land Management from rounding up wild horses and burros Tuesday in the Spring Mountains west of Las Vegas.

America's Wild Horse Advocates filed an emergency motion earlier this week and argued that the federal government's environmental assessment report, which led to the gathering, was "flawed, inaccurate, and lacks a solid grounding in legitimate rangeland science."

 

---

Review: girls & horses - Templeton Thompson
Written by Michelle

Artist: Templeton Thompson
Title: girls & horses
Category: Music
Genre: Country

Our Rating:

HORSE GIRL APPROVED
Have you ever heard a song that touches your soul? It's as though the songwriter got inside your head and put words and a tune to your thoughts. A song like that can ignite strong feelings. It can make you laugh or cry. It can inspire you. It can give you goose bumps, or make you sing at the top of your lungs for the world (or at least your neighbors) to hear.

If you're a girl who loves horses, nearly every song on Templeton Thompson's latest collection is likely to have an affect, from the title track "girls & horses" (which finally answers the question our friends and family have been asking -- what is it with girls and horses?) through the hidden song at the end.

Templeton is gifted with singing talent, but her voice is much more than technical ability. As the writer or co-writer of all but one of the tunes in this collection, she sings the *feeling* behind each song. Every track tells her story, about the ups and downs of life (she remembers ridin', ride before it rains), the pursuit of dreams (just stay crazy), finding happiness (shouldn't we all, beautiful day, wake up grateful) and the courage, values, and strength we gain from our connection to horses (guardian angel, cowgirl creed, tall in the saddle).

From the perspective of this horse girl, Templeton Thompson is spectacularly talented. Her music is soulful, inspiring, touching, and just great to hear.

HUSBAND APPROVED
There are all sorts of jokes passed around among the loved-ones of horse girls. A favorite has to do with the delight we find in our horse's little "buck 'n toot" sessions vs. the disgust we express when the same comes from our human partner... Fortunately I'm blessed with a wonderful hubby who supports my horsiness. Although his musical taste is stuck in the '70's and his idea of "horse power" is a Harley Davidson, he gave girls & horses an unsolicited thumbs-up.

ANIMAL APPROVED
We had a noisy storm around the holidays and our dog was very anxious, always wanting to be on my lap (which makes it hard to get anything done) so I cranked-up girls & horses. He relaxed, curled up at my feet, and went to sleep. IMHO, kids and animals are the best judge of character, and apparently music too.

TEMPLETON'S BIO

Singer/songwriter Templeton Thompson draws from a deep well of influences that combine with her Texas roots to give her style of country music a distinctive, soulful edge. She names Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, and Don Williams as her most influential heroes.

You can find her songs on million-selling CD's from country superstars like Reba McEntire, Jo Dee Messina and Little Texas. Her song, “Settle Down Cinderella” is featured in the 2006 20th Century Fox Motion Picture, “Dr. Doolittle 3.”

Templeton is one of Nashville's sought after session vocalists, having sung countless demos as well as background vocals for major label artists like Reba McEntire. She has performed on stage for audiences across the US, in Europe, and in Japan.

Combining her love for horses with her passion for music, Templeton includes major horse expos and other National horse events in her touring schedule, often performing from horseback. In 2006 she performed to sold-out crowds at the All American Quarterhorse Congress and the National Reining Horse Association Futurity.

Additionally, Templeton serves on the board of directors for the Nashville chapter of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. She's also been named worldwide ambassador for EAGALA (the Equine Assisted Growth And Learning Association).

---

Review: girls & horses - Templeton Thompson
Written by Michelle

Artist: Templeton Thompson
Title: girls & horses
Category: Music
Genre: Country

Our Rating:

HORSE GIRL APPROVED
Have you ever heard a song that touches your soul? It's as though the songwriter got inside your head and put words and a tune to your thoughts. A song like that can ignite strong feelings. It can make you laugh or cry. It can inspire you. It can give you goose bumps, or make you sing at the top of your lungs for the world (or at least your neighbors) to hear.

If you're a girl who loves horses, nearly every song on Templeton Thompson's latest collection is likely to have an affect, from the title track "girls & horses" (which finally answers the question our friends and family have been asking -- what is it with girls and horses?) through the hidden song at the end.

Templeton is gifted with singing talent, but her voice is much more than technical ability. As the writer or co-writer of all but one of the tunes in this collection, she sings the *feeling* behind each song. Every track tells her story, about the ups and downs of life (she remembers ridin', ride before it rains), the pursuit of dreams (just stay crazy), finding happiness (shouldn't we all, beautiful day, wake up grateful) and the courage, values, and strength we gain from our connection to horses (guardian angel, cowgirl creed, tall in the saddle).

From the perspective of this horse girl, Templeton Thompson is spectacularly talented. Her music is soulful, inspiring, touching, and just great to hear.

HUSBAND APPROVED
There are all sorts of jokes passed around among the loved-ones of horse girls. A favorite has to do with the delight we find in our horse's little "buck 'n toot" sessions vs. the disgust we express when the same comes from our human partner... Fortunately I'm blessed with a wonderful hubby who supports my horsiness. Although his musical taste is stuck in the '70's and his idea of "horse power" is a Harley Davidson, he gave girls & horses an unsolicited thumbs-up.

ANIMAL APPROVED
We had a noisy storm around the holidays and our dog was very anxious, always wanting to be on my lap (which makes it hard to get anything done) so I cranked-up girls & horses. He relaxed, curled up at my feet, and went to sleep. IMHO, kids and animals are the best judge of character, and apparently music too.

TEMPLETON'S BIO

Singer/songwriter Templeton Thompson draws from a deep well of influences that combine with her Texas roots to give her style of country music a distinctive, soulful edge. She names Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, and Don Williams as her most influential heroes.

You can find her songs on million-selling CD's from country superstars like Reba McEntire, Jo Dee Messina and Little Texas. Her song, “Settle Down Cinderella” is featured in the 2006 20th Century Fox Motion Picture, “Dr. Doolittle 3.”

Templeton is one of Nashville's sought after session vocalists, having sung countless demos as well as background vocals for major label artists like Reba McEntire. She has performed on stage for audiences across the US, in Europe, and in Japan.

Combining her love for horses with her passion for music, Templeton includes major horse expos and other National horse events in her touring schedule, often performing from horseback. In 2006 she performed to sold-out crowds at the All American Quarterhorse Congress and the National Reining Horse Association Futurity.

Additionally, Templeton serves on the board of directors for the Nashville chapter of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. She's also been named worldwide ambassador for EAGALA (the Equine Assisted Growth And Learning Association).

---

Review: girls & horses - Templeton Thompson
Written by Michelle

Artist: Templeton Thompson
Title: girls & horses
Category: Music
Genre: Country

Our Rating:

HORSE GIRL APPROVED
Have you ever heard a song that touches your soul? It's as though the songwriter got inside your head and put words and a tune to your thoughts. A song like that can ignite strong feelings. It can make you laugh or cry. It can inspire you. It can give you goose bumps, or make you sing at the top of your lungs for the world (or at least your neighbors) to hear.

If you're a girl who loves horses, nearly every song on Templeton Thompson's latest collection is likely to have an affect, from the title track "girls & horses" (which finally answers the question our friends and family have been asking -- what is it with girls and horses?) through the hidden song at the end.

Templeton is gifted with singing talent, but her voice is much more than technical ability. As the writer or co-writer of all but one of the tunes in this collection, she sings the *feeling* behind each song. Every track tells her story, about the ups and downs of life (she remembers ridin', ride before it rains), the pursuit of dreams (just stay crazy), finding happiness (shouldn't we all, beautiful day, wake up grateful) and the courage, values, and strength we gain from our connection to horses (guardian angel, cowgirl creed, tall in the saddle).

From the perspective of this horse girl, Templeton Thompson is spectacularly talented. Her music is soulful, inspiring, touching, and just great to hear.

HUSBAND APPROVED
There are all sorts of jokes passed around among the loved-ones of horse girls. A favorite has to do with the delight we find in our horse's little "buck 'n toot" sessions vs. the disgust we express when the same comes from our human partner... Fortunately I'm blessed with a wonderful hubby who supports my horsiness. Although his musical taste is stuck in the '70's and his idea of "horse power" is a Harley Davidson, he gave girls & horses an unsolicited thumbs-up.

ANIMAL APPROVED
We had a noisy storm around the holidays and our dog was very anxious, always wanting to be on my lap (which makes it hard to get anything done) so I cranked-up girls & horses. He relaxed, curled up at my feet, and went to sleep. IMHO, kids and animals are the best judge of character, and apparently music too.

TEMPLETON'S BIO

Singer/songwriter Templeton Thompson draws from a deep well of influences that combine with her Texas roots to give her style of country music a distinctive, soulful edge. She names Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, and Don Williams as her most influential heroes.

You can find her songs on million-selling CD's from country superstars like Reba McEntire, Jo Dee Messina and Little Texas. Her song, “Settle Down Cinderella” is featured in the 2006 20th Century Fox Motion Picture, “Dr. Doolittle 3.”

Templeton is one of Nashville's sought after session vocalists, having sung countless demos as well as background vocals for major label artists like Reba McEntire. She has performed on stage for audiences across the US, in Europe, and in Japan.

Combining her love for horses with her passion for music, Templeton includes major horse expos and other National horse events in her touring schedule, often performing from horseback. In 2006 she performed to sold-out crowds at the All American Quarterhorse Congress and the National Reining Horse Association Futurity.

Additionally, Templeton serves on the board of directors for the Nashville chapter of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. She's also been named worldwide ambassador for EAGALA (the Equine Assisted Growth And Learning Association).

---

the worst worms
Written by WHINNY

Strongyles: The Worst of the Worms by: Karen Briggs April 01 2004 Article # 5114

Article Tools

Ever since the battle against internal parasites began, researchers, veterinarians, and horse owners have recognized a common enemy--strongyles, sometimes called bloodworms (or, in the United Kingdom, redworms). The largest and most significant family of worms in horses, they're also the most dangerous. In fact, they're considered responsible for the vast majority of serious parasite-related health problems in adult horses, and they have the capacity to kill. Strongyles are nematodes, with roughly cylindrical bodies that are round in cross-section. Most species range from a half-inch to two inches in length. As their common name suggests, a few varieties of strongyles are blood red in color, although most species are white. The adults are equipped with well-defined buccal capsules (mouth parts) with teeth, the better to latch on to your horse's intestinal wall. Unlike the tapeworms we discussed in February, strongyles have separate sexes, and males can be distinguished from females by the shape of their tails. Few worms are more prolific--female strongyles lay eggs almost constantly, making it easy to detect a horse infected with adult strongyles by examining manure for eggs. All strongyles of horses have direct life cycles. This means that they can be transmitted between hosts without involving a different species of animal (tapeworms need another species besides horses to complete their life cycle). However, when strongyle eggs are passed in manure, they are not capable of infecting a horse. They must first develop through three distinct stages before becoming infective. The Climate-Controlled Worm Strongyle eggs hatch in the fecal pile when environmental temperatures range from 45-85° F. That range is critical: Temperatures below the stated range are too cold for hatching to occur, and freezing is usually fatal to strongyle eggs. And although eggs hatch quickly at higher temperatures, the resulting first-stage larvae (designated L1 by parasitologists) die very rapidly. At moderate temperatures, the L1 stage larvae consume bacteria and other organic material present in feces, and they eventually molt into second stage larvae (L2). All told, there are three larval stages the young strongyle must go through in the outside environment before it becomes capable of infecting a horse as an L3. The rate at which strongyle eggs hatch and larvae develop from L1 to L3 is directly proportional to the environmental temperature. In warm weather, eggs can hatch and yield infective larvae in as little as three days, but the process might take several weeks in cooler months. Once a strongyle egg develops to the L3 stage, however, the environmental conditions that favor its survival are quite different. Third-stage larvae are completely surrounded by a membrane that protects them from drying out. However, the membrane doesn't have a mouth opening. Therefore, L3s cannot feed and must survive on energy that has been stored in their intestinal cells. The quantity of this stored energy is limited, and once it is gone, the larva dies of energy exhaustion and starvation. How quickly this happens is, once again, directly proportional to the environmental temperatures. In warm weather, stores are used up rapidly, but at very low temperatures, little if any are consumed. What this means for the horse world is that larvae disappear rapidly from pastures during hot, dry weather, but they survive extremely well in freezing conditions. In most regions of the United States, infective larvae present on pasture in October can persist until the following May or June. In climates with hot summers, grazing horses are at far greater risk of parasitism in December than in July. Horses pick up strongyle larvae through the normal process of grazing, as L3 larvae crawl up blades of grass. The examination of a single early-morning dewdrop on a grass blade might reveal thousands of them. Horses can also ingest the larvae directly from the soil or from drinking contaminated water. Know the Enemy Although dozens of species of strongyles are known to infect horses in North America, they can be divided into two major groups--large strongyles (Strongylinae, or large bloodworms) and small strongyles (the Cyathostominae, also called cyathostomes or cyathostomins). These two groups differ in several major and minor features, but their developmental patterns and responses to environmental conditions are virtually identical. Size is the most obvious difference between the large and small strongyles. Large strongyles are relatively stout worms up to two inches long, whereas small strongyles are small, hair-like worms, yet they can still be seen with the naked eye. Although their life cycles outside the horse are practically identical, the large and small strongyles have very different approaches to infection once they've arrived in the horse's gastrointestinal tract. Large strongyle larvae take the grand tour of the equine interior, leaving the intestine soon after infection and migrating through various tissues for the next six to 11 months. The path they take depends on the species of the worms. The best-known large strongyles are Strongylus vulgaris, whose larvae invade the lining of arteries supplying the gut, and Strongylus edentatus, the larval stages of which migrate through the liver and peritoneum (the membrane that lines the cavity of the abdomen). A third species, Strongylus equinus, tours the liver and pancreas. Regardless of the route taken, the worms' destination is the same. Eventually, large strongyle larvae return to the gut to mature and lay eggs. The 40-odd species of small strongyles that infect horses suffer far less from wanderlust than their larger cousins. Instead of taking the migratory approach, they set up housekeeping immediately and provide themselves with defenses that make it nearly impossible for the horse's immune system to attack them. Shortly after being swallowed, small strongyle larvae invade the lining (mucosa) of the large intestine, where a thin, tough capsule of scar tissue forms around each worm. Within these bubbles, larvae undergo further development. The capsule serves two functions. First, it (temporarily) protects the horse from the parasite, and there is remarkably little inflammation around these cysts as long as the walls remain intact. Simultaneously, the capsule protects the larva from its host's immune reactions, and also from the majority of equine dewormers that are currently marketed. Researchers have counted up to 60 reddish-black capsules per square centimeter of intestinal tissue in severely infected horses. The cyathostome stage that first enters the tissues is known as an early third stage larva (EL3). After an EL3 becomes encapsulated or "encysted," it can follow one of two developmental patterns. It might mature progressively, turning into a late third-stage larva (LL3), then a fourth-stage larva (L4), all within the same cyst. Or the EL3 might disrupt further maturation and remain stalled in the early third stage for up to two years or more--a pattern known as arrested development. This happens when there is already a large population of adult small strongyles in the hollow center (lumen) of the gut; the immature larvae appear to be able to wait their turn to come to maturity. When the adult population dies off, either through "old age" or thanks to being purged by a deworming drug, the encysted larvae eventually emerge from the tissues as L4s, sometimes in huge numbers. Within a few weeks, cyathostome larvae in the lumen mature into adults and begin to lay hundreds of thousands of eggs, which can be observed in the manure of infected horses. All strongyle eggs are similar in appearance, so one cannot determine whether a horse is concurrently infected with both large and small strongyles by a fecal egg count. This can be determined only if feces are cultured in a laboratory and the distinctive L3 stages are recovered for identification and differentiation. Population Patterns Unlike the ascarids we discussed last month, strongyles, both large and small, are a concern throughout a horse's life. Although very young foals might pass strongyle eggs in their feces, these could just be the result of coprophagy, i.e., the foal eating his dam's manure (a normal behavior that helps inoculate the foal's cecum with beneficial fiber-digesting bacteria). Researchers believe the ingested eggs are just passing through and do not represent a true infection. Foals begin to acquire strongyle infections as soon as they can nibble at forage, however, and foals as young as six weeks can harbor small strongyles and pass typical eggs in their manure. Strongyle infections accelerate when grazing becomes a horse's major source of nutrients. In fact, the transmission of strongyles is almost totally limited to pastures, and very little infection is thought to arise in stables or on dry lots. Although some immunity to strongyle infection occurs, it usually amounts only to a reduction of strongyle disease rather than the elimination or prevention of infections. Therefore, horses tend to maintain strongyle infections for their entire lives if not on a deworming program. Individual horses vary markedly in their susceptibility to strongyle infections. A certain proportion of the herd consistently has very low fecal egg counts, even in the absence of anthelmintic treatment, whereas a similar proportion will probably have high counts and be responsible for the majority of pasture contamination. The Damage Done The internal thoroughfares through which large strongyles travel in their migration through the horse suffer greatly from the traffic. The "footprints" these destructive worms leave can include: Rapid weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, lethargy, dull hair coat, poor performance, a "pot-bellied" appearance, diarrhea and/or constipation--the classic signs of a severely parasitized horse; Localized hemorrhage, swelling, and small bleeding ulcers in the lining of the cecum and colon, thanks to adult large strongyles attaching with their damaging mouth parts and sucking blood (the worms might move to several different sites over their life spans); Anemia and hypoproteinemia (decreased levels of protein in the blood); A swollen, bluish-red liver, which can develop chronic fibrosis (caused by S. edentatus); Inflammation of the abdominal lining (peritonitis) (S. edentatus); Submucosal cysts in the liver, pancreas, and intestine (S. equinus); Irritated and thickened arterial walls in the cranial mesenteric artery and its branches, which supply blood to the small intestine, colon, and cecum (S. vulgaris); Restricted blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract, thanks to partial (or complete) blockages by worms, which can lead to infarctions (areas of dead tissue) (S. vulgaris); Ballooning of the mesenteric artery, called a verminous aneurysm (a sac formed by the stretching of the wall of an artery), can occur in the intestine, heart, kidney, liver, or legs, which can lead to thrombi (blood clots) gathering there like clusters of grapes. If these clots break free, they can block vessels further downstream (S. vulgaris); Severe thrombo-embolic colic due to disruptions of the blood supply to the intestine (S. vulgaris); and In rare cases, complete rupture of the mesenteric artery, which is usually fatal (S. vulgaris). Small strongyle infections have more variable effects. During the initial phase of infection, when larvae are ingested from pasture, massive invasion of the gut can cause local inflammation that might be manifested as diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Later, during larval development, there is remarkably little host response to the encysted larvae. They can lurk in the intestinal lining for months or years with no discernible effect on the horse. The rupture of the cyst capsules by emerging larvae, however, is accompanied by intense local inflammation. Tissues around ruptured cysts suffer hemorrhage, edema, and local infiltration of inflammatory cells, and the horse can become anemic. The gut damage from emerging larvae can manifest as diarrhea, weight loss, and severe hypoproteinemia (decreased levels of protein in the blood). There's also a severe syndrome known as larval cyathostomosis associated with the synchronous emergence of large numbers of encysted larvae. Larval cyathostomosis occurs seasonally (often in winter or spring), and can lead to intense irritation of the mucosal lining of the cecum and colon, impaired gut motility, a sudden onset of diarrhea, weakness, muscular wasting, and severe colic. Rarely, horses can suddenly die with few outward signs of disease, the cause being revealed only on necropsy. Larval cyathostomosis has a guarded prognosis at the best of times, and it is now considered one of the most serious parasite-related diseases in horses, making small strongyles a much more deadly foe than we once thought. It should be kept in mind, however, that small strongyles are usually present at all stages of their developmental cycle, each causing different pathologies to the horse. Consequently, with the exception of the severe disease caused by larval cyathostomosis, it is not usually possible to distinguish symptoms caused by the various stages of these worms. Beating Back the Invasion Nearly all equine dewormers marketed today are termed "broad spectrum," meaning they're effective against large strongyles, small strongyles, ascarids, and pinworms. The only exception currently available in North America is piperazine, which has no activity against large strongyles. But there's a catch. All dewormers with label claims against strongyles are effective against the adult, egg-laying stages, but only two classes demonstrate efficacy against migrating large strongyle larvae. These are the macrocyclic lactones (see "What Kills Larval Strongyles" above), which include ivermectin and moxidectin, and elevated dosages of certain benzimidazoles. Currently, Panacur and Safe-Guard (fenbendazole) are the only benzimidazoles with label claims against larval large strongyles, and this is achieved by administering elevated dosages (10 mg/kg) daily for five consecutive days (marketed as the Panacur Powerpak). It's only quite recently that we've been able to tackle the problem of encysted small strongyles, which are left completely unscathed by most deworming drugs, including ivermectin. Only two drugs are considered larvicidal against encysted small strongyles: Moxidectin (at 0.4 mg/kg) and fenbendazole (10 mg/kg daily for five consecutive days), which are both known to kill significant proportions of the encysted cyathostome larvae within the gut mucosa. Recent studies have found that moxidectin's larvicidal effect was evident within nine days after treatment, and that larvae died within the cysts without inciting any inflammatory reaction. Various researchers have noted improvements in the appearance of the equine gut after treatment with larvicidal dewormers. Prevention One of the simplest methods of preventing strongyle infection would be to deny horses access to pasture. Unfortunately, this is an impractical control recommendation, and it comes with its own set of downsides, including increased feed and bedding costs and the potential for the development of vices when your horse is bored and deprived of equine company. Eradicating strongyle populations from pastures is also a tall order, considering the larvae can survive drought conditions and even the perils of winter. But instituting a control program can at least help prevent accumulation of large numbers of infective larvae on those blades of grass--and that is the surest way to limit worm burdens in your horse. We'll focus on the specifics of pasture management in a future article.

---

the worst worms
Written by WHINNY

Strongyles: The Worst of the Worms by: Karen Briggs April 01 2004 Article # 5114

Article Tools

Ever since the battle against internal parasites began, researchers, veterinarians, and horse owners have recognized a common enemy--strongyles, sometimes called bloodworms (or, in the United Kingdom, redworms). The largest and most significant family of worms in horses, they're also the most dangerous. In fact, they're considered responsible for the vast majority of serious parasite-related health problems in adult horses, and they have the capacity to kill. Strongyles are nematodes, with roughly cylindrical bodies that are round in cross-section. Most species range from a half-inch to two inches in length. As their common name suggests, a few varieties of strongyles are blood red in color, although most species are white. The adults are equipped with well-defined buccal capsules (mouth parts) with teeth, the better to latch on to your horse's intestinal wall. Unlike the tapeworms we discussed in February, strongyles have separate sexes, and males can be distinguished from females by the shape of their tails. Few worms are more prolific--female strongyles lay eggs almost constantly, making it easy to detect a horse infected with adult strongyles by examining manure for eggs. All strongyles of horses have direct life cycles. This means that they can be transmitted between hosts without involving a different species of animal (tapeworms need another species besides horses to complete their life cycle). However, when strongyle eggs are passed in manure, they are not capable of infecting a horse. They must first develop through three distinct stages before becoming infective. The Climate-Controlled Worm Strongyle eggs hatch in the fecal pile when environmental temperatures range from 45-85° F. That range is critical: Temperatures below the stated range are too cold for hatching to occur, and freezing is usually fatal to strongyle eggs. And although eggs hatch quickly at higher temperatures, the resulting first-stage larvae (designated L1 by parasitologists) die very rapidly. At moderate temperatures, the L1 stage larvae consume bacteria and other organic material present in feces, and they eventually molt into second stage larvae (L2). All told, there are three larval stages the young strongyle must go through in the outside environment before it becomes capable of infecting a horse as an L3. The rate at which strongyle eggs hatch and larvae develop from L1 to L3 is directly proportional to the environmental temperature. In warm weather, eggs can hatch and yield infective larvae in as little as three days, but the process might take several weeks in cooler months. Once a strongyle egg develops to the L3 stage, however, the environmental conditions that favor its survival are quite different. Third-stage larvae are completely surrounded by a membrane that protects them from drying out. However, the membrane doesn't have a mouth opening. Therefore, L3s cannot feed and must survive on energy that has been stored in their intestinal cells. The quantity of this stored energy is limited, and once it is gone, the larva dies of energy exhaustion and starvation. How quickly this happens is, once again, directly proportional to the environmental temperatures. In warm weather, stores are used up rapidly, but at very low temperatures, little if any are consumed. What this means for the horse world is that larvae disappear rapidly from pastures during hot, dry weather, but they survive extremely well in freezing conditions. In most regions of the United States, infective larvae present on pasture in October can persist until the following May or June. In climates with hot summers, grazing horses are at far greater risk of parasitism in December than in July. Horses pick up strongyle larvae through the normal process of grazing, as L3 larvae crawl up blades of grass. The examination of a single early-morning dewdrop on a grass blade might reveal thousands of them. Horses can also ingest the larvae directly from the soil or from drinking contaminated water. Know the Enemy Although dozens of species of strongyles are known to infect horses in North America, they can be divided into two major groups--large strongyles (Strongylinae, or large bloodworms) and small strongyles (the Cyathostominae, also called cyathostomes or cyathostomins). These two groups differ in several major and minor features, but their developmental patterns and responses to environmental conditions are virtually identical. Size is the most obvious difference between the large and small strongyles. Large strongyles are relatively stout worms up to two inches long, whereas small strongyles are small, hair-like worms, yet they can still be seen with the naked eye. Although their life cycles outside the horse are practically identical, the large and small strongyles have very different approaches to infection once they've arrived in the horse's gastrointestinal tract. Large strongyle larvae take the grand tour of the equine interior, leaving the intestine soon after infection and migrating through various tissues for the next six to 11 months. The path they take depends on the species of the worms. The best-known large strongyles are Strongylus vulgaris, whose larvae invade the lining of arteries supplying the gut, and Strongylus edentatus, the larval stages of which migrate through the liver and peritoneum (the membrane that lines the cavity of the abdomen). A third species, Strongylus equinus, tours the liver and pancreas. Regardless of the route taken, the worms' destination is the same. Eventually, large strongyle larvae return to the gut to mature and lay eggs. The 40-odd species of small strongyles that infect horses suffer far less from wanderlust than their larger cousins. Instead of taking the migratory approach, they set up housekeeping immediately and provide themselves with defenses that make it nearly impossible for the horse's immune system to attack them. Shortly after being swallowed, small strongyle larvae invade the lining (mucosa) of the large intestine, where a thin, tough capsule of scar tissue forms around each worm. Within these bubbles, larvae undergo further development. The capsule serves two functions. First, it (temporarily) protects the horse from the parasite, and there is remarkably little inflammation around these cysts as long as the walls remain intact. Simultaneously, the capsule protects the larva from its host's immune reactions, and also from the majority of equine dewormers that are currently marketed. Researchers have counted up to 60 reddish-black capsules per square centimeter of intestinal tissue in severely infected horses. The cyathostome stage that first enters the tissues is known as an early third stage larva (EL3). After an EL3 becomes encapsulated or "encysted," it can follow one of two developmental patterns. It might mature progressively, turning into a late third-stage larva (LL3), then a fourth-stage larva (L4), all within the same cyst. Or the EL3 might disrupt further maturation and remain stalled in the early third stage for up to two years or more--a pattern known as arrested development. This happens when there is already a large population of adult small strongyles in the hollow center (lumen) of the gut; the immature larvae appear to be able to wait their turn to come to maturity. When the adult population dies off, either through "old age" or thanks to being purged by a deworming drug, the encysted larvae eventually emerge from the tissues as L4s, sometimes in huge numbers. Within a few weeks, cyathostome larvae in the lumen mature into adults and begin to lay hundreds of thousands of eggs, which can be observed in the manure of infected horses. All strongyle eggs are similar in appearance, so one cannot determine whether a horse is concurrently infected with both large and small strongyles by a fecal egg count. This can be determined only if feces are cultured in a laboratory and the distinctive L3 stages are recovered for identification and differentiation. Population Patterns Unlike the ascarids we discussed last month, strongyles, both large and small, are a concern throughout a horse's life. Although very young foals might pass strongyle eggs in their feces, these could just be the result of coprophagy, i.e., the foal eating his dam's manure (a normal behavior that helps inoculate the foal's cecum with beneficial fiber-digesting bacteria). Researchers believe the ingested eggs are just passing through and do not represent a true infection. Foals begin to acquire strongyle infections as soon as they can nibble at forage, however, and foals as young as six weeks can harbor small strongyles and pass typical eggs in their manure. Strongyle infections accelerate when grazing becomes a horse's major source of nutrients. In fact, the transmission of strongyles is almost totally limited to pastures, and very little infection is thought to arise in stables or on dry lots. Although some immunity to strongyle infection occurs, it usually amounts only to a reduction of strongyle disease rather than the elimination or prevention of infections. Therefore, horses tend to maintain strongyle infections for their entire lives if not on a deworming program. Individual horses vary markedly in their susceptibility to strongyle infections. A certain proportion of the herd consistently has very low fecal egg counts, even in the absence of anthelmintic treatment, whereas a similar proportion will probably have high counts and be responsible for the majority of pasture contamination. The Damage Done The internal thoroughfares through which large strongyles travel in their migration through the horse suffer greatly from the traffic. The "footprints" these destructive worms leave can include: Rapid weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, lethargy, dull hair coat, poor performance, a "pot-bellied" appearance, diarrhea and/or constipation--the classic signs of a severely parasitized horse; Localized hemorrhage, swelling, and small bleeding ulcers in the lining of the cecum and colon, thanks to adult large strongyles attaching with their damaging mouth parts and sucking blood (the worms might move to several different sites over their life spans); Anemia and hypoproteinemia (decreased levels of protein in the blood); A swollen, bluish-red liver, which can develop chronic fibrosis (caused by S. edentatus); Inflammation of the abdominal lining (peritonitis) (S. edentatus); Submucosal cysts in the liver, pancreas, and intestine (S. equinus); Irritated and thickened arterial walls in the cranial mesenteric artery and its branches, which supply blood to the small intestine, colon, and cecum (S. vulgaris); Restricted blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract, thanks to partial (or complete) blockages by worms, which can lead to infarctions (areas of dead tissue) (S. vulgaris); Ballooning of the mesenteric artery, called a verminous aneurysm (a sac formed by the stretching of the wall of an artery), can occur in the intestine, heart, kidney, liver, or legs, which can lead to thrombi (blood clots) gathering there like clusters of grapes. If these clots break free, they can block vessels further downstream (S. vulgaris); Severe thrombo-embolic colic due to disruptions of the blood supply to the intestine (S. vulgaris); and In rare cases, complete rupture of the mesenteric artery, which is usually fatal (S. vulgaris). Small strongyle infections have more variable effects. During the initial phase of infection, when larvae are ingested from pasture, massive invasion of the gut can cause local inflammation that might be manifested as diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Later, during larval development, there is remarkably little host response to the encysted larvae. They can lurk in the intestinal lining for months or years with no discernible effect on the horse. The rupture of the cyst capsules by emerging larvae, however, is accompanied by intense local inflammation. Tissues around ruptured cysts suffer hemorrhage, edema, and local infiltration of inflammatory cells, and the horse can become anemic. The gut damage from emerging larvae can manifest as diarrhea, weight loss, and severe hypoproteinemia (decreased levels of protein in the blood). There's also a severe syndrome known as larval cyathostomosis associated with the synchronous emergence of large numbers of encysted larvae. Larval cyathostomosis occurs seasonally (often in winter or spring), and can lead to intense irritation of the mucosal lining of the cecum and colon, impaired gut motility, a sudden onset of diarrhea, weakness, muscular wasting, and severe colic. Rarely, horses can suddenly die with few outward signs of disease, the cause being revealed only on necropsy. Larval cyathostomosis has a guarded prognosis at the best of times, and it is now considered one of the most serious parasite-related diseases in horses, making small strongyles a much more deadly foe than we once thought. It should be kept in mind, however, that small strongyles are usually present at all stages of their developmental cycle, each causing different pathologies to the horse. Consequently, with the exception of the severe disease caused by larval cyathostomosis, it is not usually possible to distinguish symptoms caused by the various stages of these worms. Beating Back the Invasion Nearly all equine dewormers marketed today are termed "broad spectrum," meaning they're effective against large strongyles, small strongyles, ascarids, and pinworms. The only exception currently available in North America is piperazine, which has no activity against large strongyles. But there's a catch. All dewormers with label claims against strongyles are effective against the adult, egg-laying stages, but only two classes demonstrate efficacy against migrating large strongyle larvae. These are the macrocyclic lactones (see "What Kills Larval Strongyles" above), which include ivermectin and moxidectin, and elevated dosages of certain benzimidazoles. Currently, Panacur and Safe-Guard (fenbendazole) are the only benzimidazoles with label claims against larval large strongyles, and this is achieved by administering elevated dosages (10 mg/kg) daily for five consecutive days (marketed as the Panacur Powerpak). It's only quite recently that we've been able to tackle the problem of encysted small strongyles, which are left completely unscathed by most deworming drugs, including ivermectin. Only two drugs are considered larvicidal against encysted small strongyles: Moxidectin (at 0.4 mg/kg) and fenbendazole (10 mg/kg daily for five consecutive days), which are both known to kill significant proportions of the encysted cyathostome larvae within the gut mucosa. Recent studies have found that moxidectin's larvicidal effect was evident within nine days after treatment, and that larvae died within the cysts without inciting any inflammatory reaction. Various researchers have noted improvements in the appearance of the equine gut after treatment with larvicidal dewormers. Prevention One of the simplest methods of preventing strongyle infection would be to deny horses access to pasture. Unfortunately, this is an impractical control recommendation, and it comes with its own set of downsides, including increased feed and bedding costs and the potential for the development of vices when your horse is bored and deprived of equine company. Eradicating strongyle populations from pastures is also a tall order, considering the larvae can survive drought conditions and even the perils of winter. But instituting a control program can at least help prevent accumulation of large numbers of infective larvae on those blades of grass--and that is the surest way to limit worm burdens in your horse. We'll focus on the specifics of pasture management in a future article.

---

the worst worms
Written by WHINNY

Strongyles: The Worst of the Worms by: Karen Briggs April 01 2004 Article # 5114

Article Tools

Ever since the battle against internal parasites began, researchers, veterinarians, and horse owners have recognized a common enemy--strongyles, sometimes called bloodworms (or, in the United Kingdom, redworms). The largest and most significant family of worms in horses, they're also the most dangerous. In fact, they're considered responsible for the vast majority of serious parasite-related health problems in adult horses, and they have the capacity to kill. Strongyles are nematodes, with roughly cylindrical bodies that are round in cross-section. Most species range from a half-inch to two inches in length. As their common name suggests, a few varieties of strongyles are blood red in color, although most species are white. The adults are equipped with well-defined buccal capsules (mouth parts) with teeth, the better to latch on to your horse's intestinal wall. Unlike the tapeworms we discussed in February, strongyles have separate sexes, and males can be distinguished from females by the shape of their tails. Few worms are more prolific--female strongyles lay eggs almost constantly, making it easy to detect a horse infected with adult strongyles by examining manure for eggs. All strongyles of horses have direct life cycles. This means that they can be transmitted between hosts without involving a different species of animal (tapeworms need another species besides horses to complete their life cycle). However, when strongyle eggs are passed in manure, they are not capable of infecting a horse. They must first develop through three distinct stages before becoming infective. The Climate-Controlled Worm Strongyle eggs hatch in the fecal pile when environmental temperatures range from 45-85° F. That range is critical: Temperatures below the stated range are too cold for hatching to occur, and freezing is usually fatal to strongyle eggs. And although eggs hatch quickly at higher temperatures, the resulting first-stage larvae (designated L1 by parasitologists) die very rapidly. At moderate temperatures, the L1 stage larvae consume bacteria and other organic material present in feces, and they eventually molt into second stage larvae (L2). All told, there are three larval stages the young strongyle must go through in the outside environment before it becomes capable of infecting a horse as an L3. The rate at which strongyle eggs hatch and larvae develop from L1 to L3 is directly proportional to the environmental temperature. In warm weather, eggs can hatch and yield infective larvae in as little as three days, but the process might take several weeks in cooler months. Once a strongyle egg develops to the L3 stage, however, the environmental conditions that favor its survival are quite different. Third-stage larvae are completely surrounded by a membrane that protects them from drying out. However, the membrane doesn't have a mouth opening. Therefore, L3s cannot feed and must survive on energy that has been stored in their intestinal cells. The quantity of this stored energy is limited, and once it is gone, the larva dies of energy exhaustion and starvation. How quickly this happens is, once again, directly proportional to the environmental temperatures. In warm weather, stores are used up rapidly, but at very low temperatures, little if any are consumed. What this means for the horse world is that larvae disappear rapidly from pastures during hot, dry weather, but they survive extremely well in freezing conditions. In most regions of the United States, infective larvae present on pasture in October can persist until the following May or June. In climates with hot summers, grazing horses are at far greater risk of parasitism in December than in July. Horses pick up strongyle larvae through the normal process of grazing, as L3 larvae crawl up blades of grass. The examination of a single early-morning dewdrop on a grass blade might reveal thousands of them. Horses can also ingest the larvae directly from the soil or from drinking contaminated water. Know the Enemy Although dozens of species of strongyles are known to infect horses in North America, they can be divided into two major groups--large strongyles (Strongylinae, or large bloodworms) and small strongyles (the Cyathostominae, also called cyathostomes or cyathostomins). These two groups differ in several major and minor features, but their developmental patterns and responses to environmental conditions are virtually identical. Size is the most obvious difference between the large and small strongyles. Large strongyles are relatively stout worms up to two inches long, whereas small strongyles are small, hair-like worms, yet they can still be seen with the naked eye. Although their life cycles outside the horse are practically identical, the large and small strongyles have very different approaches to infection once they've arrived in the horse's gastrointestinal tract. Large strongyle larvae take the grand tour of the equine interior, leaving the intestine soon after infection and migrating through various tissues for the next six to 11 months. The path they take depends on the species of the worms. The best-known large strongyles are Strongylus vulgaris, whose larvae invade the lining of arteries supplying the gut, and Strongylus edentatus, the larval stages of which migrate through the liver and peritoneum (the membrane that lines the cavity of the abdomen). A third species, Strongylus equinus, tours the liver and pancreas. Regardless of the route taken, the worms' destination is the same. Eventually, large strongyle larvae return to the gut to mature and lay eggs. The 40-odd species of small strongyles that infect horses suffer far less from wanderlust than their larger cousins. Instead of taking the migratory approach, they set up housekeeping immediately and provide themselves with defenses that make it nearly impossible for the horse's immune system to attack them. Shortly after being swallowed, small strongyle larvae invade the lining (mucosa) of the large intestine, where a thin, tough capsule of scar tissue forms around each worm. Within these bubbles, larvae undergo further development. The capsule serves two functions. First, it (temporarily) protects the horse from the parasite, and there is remarkably little inflammation around these cysts as long as the walls remain intact. Simultaneously, the capsule protects the larva from its host's immune reactions, and also from the majority of equine dewormers that are currently marketed. Researchers have counted up to 60 reddish-black capsules per square centimeter of intestinal tissue in severely infected horses. The cyathostome stage that first enters the tissues is known as an early third stage larva (EL3). After an EL3 becomes encapsulated or "encysted," it can follow one of two developmental patterns. It might mature progressively, turning into a late third-stage larva (LL3), then a fourth-stage larva (L4), all within the same cyst. Or the EL3 might disrupt further maturation and remain stalled in the early third stage for up to two years or more--a pattern known as arrested development. This happens when there is already a large population of adult small strongyles in the hollow center (lumen) of the gut; the immature larvae appear to be able to wait their turn to come to maturity. When the adult population dies off, either through "old age" or thanks to being purged by a deworming drug, the encysted larvae eventually emerge from the tissues as L4s, sometimes in huge numbers. Within a few weeks, cyathostome larvae in the lumen mature into adults and begin to lay hundreds of thousands of eggs, which can be observed in the manure of infected horses. All strongyle eggs are similar in appearance, so one cannot determine whether a horse is concurrently infected with both large and small strongyles by a fecal egg count. This can be determined only if feces are cultured in a laboratory and the distinctive L3 stages are recovered for identification and differentiation. Population Patterns Unlike the ascarids we discussed last month, strongyles, both large and small, are a concern throughout a horse's life. Although very young foals might pass strongyle eggs in their feces, these could just be the result of coprophagy, i.e., the foal eating his dam's manure (a normal behavior that helps inoculate the foal's cecum with beneficial fiber-digesting bacteria). Researchers believe the ingested eggs are just passing through and do not represent a true infection. Foals begin to acquire strongyle infections as soon as they can nibble at forage, however, and foals as young as six weeks can harbor small strongyles and pass typical eggs in their manure. Strongyle infections accelerate when grazing becomes a horse's major source of nutrients. In fact, the transmission of strongyles is almost totally limited to pastures, and very little infection is thought to arise in stables or on dry lots. Although some immunity to strongyle infection occurs, it usually amounts only to a reduction of strongyle disease rather than the elimination or prevention of infections. Therefore, horses tend to maintain strongyle infections for their entire lives if not on a deworming program. Individual horses vary markedly in their susceptibility to strongyle infections. A certain proportion of the herd consistently has very low fecal egg counts, even in the absence of anthelmintic treatment, whereas a similar proportion will probably have high counts and be responsible for the majority of pasture contamination. The Damage Done The internal thoroughfares through which large strongyles travel in their migration through the horse suffer greatly from the traffic. The "footprints" these destructive worms leave can include: Rapid weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, lethargy, dull hair coat, poor performance, a "pot-bellied" appearance, diarrhea and/or constipation--the classic signs of a severely parasitized horse; Localized hemorrhage, swelling, and small bleeding ulcers in the lining of the cecum and colon, thanks to adult large strongyles attaching with their damaging mouth parts and sucking blood (the worms might move to several different sites over their life spans); Anemia and hypoproteinemia (decreased levels of protein in the blood); A swollen, bluish-red liver, which can develop chronic fibrosis (caused by S. edentatus); Inflammation of the abdominal lining (peritonitis) (S. edentatus); Submucosal cysts in the liver, pancreas, and intestine (S. equinus); Irritated and thickened arterial walls in the cranial mesenteric artery and its branches, which supply blood to the small intestine, colon, and cecum (S. vulgaris); Restricted blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract, thanks to partial (or complete) blockages by worms, which can lead to infarctions (areas of dead tissue) (S. vulgaris); Ballooning of the mesenteric artery, called a verminous aneurysm (a sac formed by the stretching of the wall of an artery), can occur in the intestine, heart, kidney, liver, or legs, which can lead to thrombi (blood clots) gathering there like clusters of grapes. If these clots break free, they can block vessels further downstream (S. vulgaris); Severe thrombo-embolic colic due to disruptions of the blood supply to the intestine (S. vulgaris); and In rare cases, complete rupture of the mesenteric artery, which is usually fatal (S. vulgaris). Small strongyle infections have more variable effects. During the initial phase of infection, when larvae are ingested from pasture, massive invasion of the gut can cause local inflammation that might be manifested as diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Later, during larval development, there is remarkably little host response to the encysted larvae. They can lurk in the intestinal lining for months or years with no discernible effect on the horse. The rupture of the cyst capsules by emerging larvae, however, is accompanied by intense local inflammation. Tissues around ruptured cysts suffer hemorrhage, edema, and local infiltration of inflammatory cells, and the horse can become anemic. The gut damage from emerging larvae can manifest as diarrhea, weight loss, and severe hypoproteinemia (decreased levels of protein in the blood). There's also a severe syndrome known as larval cyathostomosis associated with the synchronous emergence of large numbers of encysted larvae. Larval cyathostomosis occurs seasonally (often in winter or spring), and can lead to intense irritation of the mucosal lining of the cecum and colon, impaired gut motility, a sudden onset of diarrhea, weakness, muscular wasting, and severe colic. Rarely, horses can suddenly die with few outward signs of disease, the cause being revealed only on necropsy. Larval cyathostomosis has a guarded prognosis at the best of times, and it is now considered one of the most serious parasite-related diseases in horses, making small strongyles a much more deadly foe than we once thought. It should be kept in mind, however, that small strongyles are usually present at all stages of their developmental cycle, each causing different pathologies to the horse. Consequently, with the exception of the severe disease caused by larval cyathostomosis, it is not usually possible to distinguish symptoms caused by the various stages of these worms. Beating Back the Invasion Nearly all equine dewormers marketed today are termed "broad spectrum," meaning they're effective against large strongyles, small strongyles, ascarids, and pinworms. The only exception currently available in North America is piperazine, which has no activity against large strongyles. But there's a catch. All dewormers with label claims against strongyles are effective against the adult, egg-laying stages, but only two classes demonstrate efficacy against migrating large strongyle larvae. These are the macrocyclic lactones (see "What Kills Larval Strongyles" above), which include ivermectin and moxidectin, and elevated dosages of certain benzimidazoles. Currently, Panacur and Safe-Guard (fenbendazole) are the only benzimidazoles with label claims against larval large strongyles, and this is achieved by administering elevated dosages (10 mg/kg) daily for five consecutive days (marketed as the Panacur Powerpak). It's only quite recently that we've been able to tackle the problem of encysted small strongyles, which are left completely unscathed by most deworming drugs, including ivermectin. Only two drugs are considered larvicidal against encysted small strongyles: Moxidectin (at 0.4 mg/kg) and fenbendazole (10 mg/kg daily for five consecutive days), which are both known to kill significant proportions of the encysted cyathostome larvae within the gut mucosa. Recent studies have found that moxidectin's larvicidal effect was evident within nine days after treatment, and that larvae died within the cysts without inciting any inflammatory reaction. Various researchers have noted improvements in the appearance of the equine gut after treatment with larvicidal dewormers. Prevention One of the simplest methods of preventing strongyle infection would be to deny horses access to pasture. Unfortunately, this is an impractical control recommendation, and it comes with its own set of downsides, including increased feed and bedding costs and the potential for the development of vices when your horse is bored and deprived of equine company. Eradicating strongyle populations from pastures is also a tall order, considering the larvae can survive drought conditions and even the perils of winter. But instituting a control program can at least help prevent accumulation of large numbers of infective larvae on those blades of grass--and that is the surest way to limit worm burdens in your horse. We'll focus on the specifics of pasture management in a future article.

---

starving horse case
Written by WHINNY

A Grant County, Okla., man accused of starving horses and dumping more than 30 animal carcasses in a ravine on his farm was charged with seven felony counts of animal cruelty Dec. 19.

George Wesley Gilchrist, 43, was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of leaving a carcass in a well, pond or stream of water. Deputies who searched his farm northwest of Medford recently found two dead donkeys floating in a pool of water that was the only source of water for surviving animals, according to an affidavit.

---

starving horse case
Written by WHINNY

A Grant County, Okla., man accused of starving horses and dumping more than 30 animal carcasses in a ravine on his farm was charged with seven felony counts of animal cruelty Dec. 19.

George Wesley Gilchrist, 43, was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of leaving a carcass in a well, pond or stream of water. Deputies who searched his farm northwest of Medford recently found two dead donkeys floating in a pool of water that was the only source of water for surviving animals, according to an affidavit.

---

starving horse case
Written by WHINNY

A Grant County, Okla., man accused of starving horses and dumping more than 30 animal carcasses in a ravine on his farm was charged with seven felony counts of animal cruelty Dec. 19.

George Wesley Gilchrist, 43, was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of leaving a carcass in a well, pond or stream of water. Deputies who searched his farm northwest of Medford recently found two dead donkeys floating in a pool of water that was the only source of water for surviving animals, according to an affidavit.

---

Woman Abused Horses, Police Say
Written by WHINNY

oor shelter, medical care lead to 77 charges A woman who allegedly neglected dozens of horses on her western Maryland farm was charged Friday (Dec. 22) with 73 misdemeanor counts of animal abuse and four felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. Defendant Barbara P. Reinken, 61, declined to comment on the charges, which came nearly three weeks after the Humane Society of Washington County and the county sheriff's office carried out a search-and-seizure warrant at her farm near Sharpsburg, about 60 miles west of Baltimore. Reinken previously denied mistreating the animals. Reinken's lawyer, Edward N. Button, also declined to comment on the charges, which carry maximum penalties totaling 21 years in prison and $93,000 in fines. Reinken's trial is set for Feb. 22 in Washington County District Court. The charging documents allege that virtually all the 75 horses taken alive from Reinken's property were infected with parasites, and that many had diseased teeth, skin, and feet. One died in transit and two were later euthanatized because of severe health problems, according to court records. A 4- to-5-year-old mare was found dead in the pasture from complications from an untreated rib fracture, the charging documents state. The felony charges are for the four deaths. "These charges are only available when the cruelty resulted in death of the creature," Deputy State's Attorney Joseph Michael said. One misdemeanor charge is for alleged neglect of a cat. In an interview Dec. 3, Reinken, a registered nurse, denied mistreating the horses but conceded she had too many on her 33-acre farm. Maryland has no laws regulating the number of horses per acre, but the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension says one horse may need one to two acres of pasture during summer grazing months. Reinken also said on Dec. 3 that her lifetime dream of owning a horse farm started crumbling after an accident in the late 1990s incapacitated her for 18 months. In the charging documents, Humane Society Executive Director Paul F. Miller wrote: "Due to the number of horses, there were not enough shelters, not enough hay, no pasture grass as it was overgrazed and no evidence of clean water." Some shelters were filled with trash or deep mud, and most of the horses appeared not to have had any recent hoof or dental care, Miller wrote. Most of the 45 mares appeared to be pregnant because most of the males hadn't been gelded, according to Miller. Separately Friday, District Judge Ralph H. France postponed a civil proceeding on Reinken's petition to have the horses returned to her. One of the terms of her release without bail was that she refrain from keeping horses on her property until the criminal case is resolved.--David Dishneau, Associated Press

---

Woman Abused Horses, Police Say
Written by WHINNY

oor shelter, medical care lead to 77 charges A woman who allegedly neglected dozens of horses on her western Maryland farm was charged Friday (Dec. 22) with 73 misdemeanor counts of animal abuse and four felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. Defendant Barbara P. Reinken, 61, declined to comment on the charges, which came nearly three weeks after the Humane Society of Washington County and the county sheriff's office carried out a search-and-seizure warrant at her farm near Sharpsburg, about 60 miles west of Baltimore. Reinken previously denied mistreating the animals. Reinken's lawyer, Edward N. Button, also declined to comment on the charges, which carry maximum penalties totaling 21 years in prison and $93,000 in fines. Reinken's trial is set for Feb. 22 in Washington County District Court. The charging documents allege that virtually all the 75 horses taken alive from Reinken's property were infected with parasites, and that many had diseased teeth, skin, and feet. One died in transit and two were later euthanatized because of severe health problems, according to court records. A 4- to-5-year-old mare was found dead in the pasture from complications from an untreated rib fracture, the charging documents state. The felony charges are for the four deaths. "These charges are only available when the cruelty resulted in death of the creature," Deputy State's Attorney Joseph Michael said. One misdemeanor charge is for alleged neglect of a cat. In an interview Dec. 3, Reinken, a registered nurse, denied mistreating the horses but conceded she had too many on her 33-acre farm. Maryland has no laws regulating the number of horses per acre, but the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension says one horse may need one to two acres of pasture during summer grazing months. Reinken also said on Dec. 3 that her lifetime dream of owning a horse farm started crumbling after an accident in the late 1990s incapacitated her for 18 months. In the charging documents, Humane Society Executive Director Paul F. Miller wrote: "Due to the number of horses, there were not enough shelters, not enough hay, no pasture grass as it was overgrazed and no evidence of clean water." Some shelters were filled with trash or deep mud, and most of the horses appeared not to have had any recent hoof or dental care, Miller wrote. Most of the 45 mares appeared to be pregnant because most of the males hadn't been gelded, according to Miller. Separately Friday, District Judge Ralph H. France postponed a civil proceeding on Reinken's petition to have the horses returned to her. One of the terms of her release without bail was that she refrain from keeping horses on her property until the criminal case is resolved.--David Dishneau, Associated Press

---

Woman Abused Horses, Police Say
Written by WHINNY

oor shelter, medical care lead to 77 charges A woman who allegedly neglected dozens of horses on her western Maryland farm was charged Friday (Dec. 22) with 73 misdemeanor counts of animal abuse and four felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. Defendant Barbara P. Reinken, 61, declined to comment on the charges, which came nearly three weeks after the Humane Society of Washington County and the county sheriff's office carried out a search-and-seizure warrant at her farm near Sharpsburg, about 60 miles west of Baltimore. Reinken previously denied mistreating the animals. Reinken's lawyer, Edward N. Button, also declined to comment on the charges, which carry maximum penalties totaling 21 years in prison and $93,000 in fines. Reinken's trial is set for Feb. 22 in Washington County District Court. The charging documents allege that virtually all the 75 horses taken alive from Reinken's property were infected with parasites, and that many had diseased teeth, skin, and feet. One died in transit and two were later euthanatized because of severe health problems, according to court records. A 4- to-5-year-old mare was found dead in the pasture from complications from an untreated rib fracture, the charging documents state. The felony charges are for the four deaths. "These charges are only available when the cruelty resulted in death of the creature," Deputy State's Attorney Joseph Michael said. One misdemeanor charge is for alleged neglect of a cat. In an interview Dec. 3, Reinken, a registered nurse, denied mistreating the horses but conceded she had too many on her 33-acre farm. Maryland has no laws regulating the number of horses per acre, but the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension says one horse may need one to two acres of pasture during summer grazing months. Reinken also said on Dec. 3 that her lifetime dream of owning a horse farm started crumbling after an accident in the late 1990s incapacitated her for 18 months. In the charging documents, Humane Society Executive Director Paul F. Miller wrote: "Due to the number of horses, there were not enough shelters, not enough hay, no pasture grass as it was overgrazed and no evidence of clean water." Some shelters were filled with trash or deep mud, and most of the horses appeared not to have had any recent hoof or dental care, Miller wrote. Most of the 45 mares appeared to be pregnant because most of the males hadn't been gelded, according to Miller. Separately Friday, District Judge Ralph H. France postponed a civil proceeding on Reinken's petition to have the horses returned to her. One of the terms of her release without bail was that she refrain from keeping horses on her property until the criminal case is resolved.--David Dishneau, Associated Press

---

State Vet: Two Deaths, Two Official Quarantines in Wellington
Written by Trevor Bailey

State Officials in Florida are investigating a possible outbreak of equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) in the Wellington, Fla., area. Affected animals have been associated with the importation of horses through the USDA New York animal import station. Laboratory confirmation is still pending.

Thus far, two horses have been euthanatized and other animals have had clinical signs. Two quarantines have been placed while state and federal officials are investigating the cause of the disease and working with affected...

Read More...

---

State Vet: Two Deaths, Two Official Quarantines in Wellington
Written by Trevor Bailey

State Officials in Florida are investigating a possible outbreak of equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) in the Wellington, Fla., area. Affected animals have been associated with the importation of horses through the USDA New York animal import station. Laboratory confirmation is still pending.

Thus far, two horses have been euthanatized and other animals have had clinical signs. Two quarantines have been placed while state and federal officials are investigating the cause of the disease and working with affected...

Read More...

---

State Vet: Two Deaths, Two Official Quarantines in Wellington
Written by Trevor Bailey

State Officials in Florida are investigating a possible outbreak of equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) in the Wellington, Fla., area. Affected animals have been associated with the importation of horses through the USDA New York animal import station. Laboratory confirmation is still pending.

Thus far, two horses have been euthanatized and other animals have had clinical signs. Two quarantines have been placed while state and federal officials are investigating the cause of the disease and working with affected...

Read More...

---

NAHMS Study Ranks EIA Awareness and Testing Rates
Written by Trevor Bailey

Horse owners' familiarity with equine infectious anemia (EIA) varies greatly by where they live, the size of their operation, and how they used their horses, according to the National Animal Health Monitoring System's (NAHMS) Equine 2005 study.

Overall, 46.5% of equine operation managers (such as farm owners or trainers) said they were "knowledgeable" about EIA. Managers in the Southern U.S. regions were the most likely to say they were knowledgeable, (54.3%), followed by Central region managers (46.5%).

Read More...

---

NAHMS Study Ranks EIA Awareness and Testing Rates
Written by Trevor Bailey

Horse owners' familiarity with equine infectious anemia (EIA) varies greatly by where they live, the size of their operation, and how they used their horses, according to the National Animal Health Monitoring System's (NAHMS) Equine 2005 study.

Overall, 46.5% of equine operation managers (such as farm owners or trainers) said they were "knowledgeable" about EIA. Managers in the Southern U.S. regions were the most likely to say they were knowledgeable, (54.3%), followed by Central region managers (46.5%).

Read More...

---

NAHMS Study Ranks EIA Awareness and Testing Rates
Written by Trevor Bailey

Horse owners' familiarity with equine infectious anemia (EIA) varies greatly by where they live, the size of their operation, and how they used their horses, according to the National Animal Health Monitoring System's (NAHMS) Equine 2005 study.

Overall, 46.5% of equine operation managers (such as farm owners or trainers) said they were "knowledgeable" about EIA. Managers in the Southern U.S. regions were the most likely to say they were knowledgeable, (54.3%), followed by Central region managers (46.5%).

Read More...

---

Animal Disaster Team Rides to Rescue
Written by Trevor Bailey

Over the weekend, the Humane Society of the United States sent two members of its disaster-response unit to Sharpsburg to help the Humane Society of Washington County round up dozens of sick, hungry and frightened horses on a poorly tended farm.

The unit's field operations director and equine specialist arrived in a 38-foot recreational vehicle and a truck pulling a smaller trailer to support local workers and volunteers in a three-day rescue operation at the Windrinker Farm near Sharpsburg.

Read More...

---

Animal Disaster Team Rides to Rescue
Written by Trevor Bailey

Over the weekend, the Humane Society of the United States sent two members of its disaster-response unit to Sharpsburg to help the Humane Society of Washington County round up dozens of sick, hungry and frightened horses on a poorly tended farm.

The unit's field operations director and equine specialist arrived in a 38-foot recreational vehicle and a truck pulling a smaller trailer to support local workers and volunteers in a three-day rescue operation at the Windrinker Farm near Sharpsburg.

Read More...

---

Animal Disaster Team Rides to Rescue
Written by Trevor Bailey

Over the weekend, the Humane Society of the United States sent two members of its disaster-response unit to Sharpsburg to help the Humane Society of Washington County round up dozens of sick, hungry and frightened horses on a poorly tended farm.

The unit's field operations director and equine specialist arrived in a 38-foot recreational vehicle and a truck pulling a smaller trailer to support local workers and volunteers in a three-day rescue operation at the Windrinker Farm near Sharpsburg.

Read More...

---

Animal Disaster Team Rides to Rescue
Written by Trevor Bailey

Over the weekend, the Humane Society of the United States sent two members of its disaster-response unit to Sharpsburg to help the Humane Society of Washington County round up dozens of sick, hungry and frightened horses on a poorly tended farm.

The unit's field operations director and equine specialist arrived in a 38-foot recreational vehicle and a truck pulling a smaller trailer to support local workers and volunteers in a three-day rescue operation at the Windrinker Farm near Sharpsburg.

Read More...

---

Periodic Ophthalmia (Moon Blindness)
Written by Trevor Bailey

Periodic ophthalmia, otherwise known as recurrent uveitis, uveitis, or moon blindness, can be a devastating disease of the equine eye. It also, unfortunately, is a disease that we really don't know much about. The hypothetical causes have been sporadically researched over the years, but we aren't really much closer to understanding this inflammatory ocular disease.

MICHAEL A. BALL, DVM Classic appearance of long-standing uveitis. Note the scarring of the iris and the white reflective cataract.

The term moon blindness comes from the ancient belief that the disease was associated with the changes of the lunar cycles. The "recurrent" or "periodic" part of the disease is the result of the propensity of this disease to recur in a rather unpredictable manner after the animal has once experienced the disease. The medically descriptive name for this disease is uveitis (pronounced you-vee-itis), and I will refer to it by that name for the rest of this article.

Read More...

---

Periodic Ophthalmia (Moon Blindness)
Written by Trevor Bailey

Periodic ophthalmia, otherwise known as recurrent uveitis, uveitis, or moon blindness, can be a devastating disease of the equine eye. It also, unfortunately, is a disease that we really don't know much about. The hypothetical causes have been sporadically researched over the years, but we aren't really much closer to understanding this inflammatory ocular disease.

MICHAEL A. BALL, DVM Classic appearance of long-standing uveitis. Note the scarring of the iris and the white reflective cataract.

The term moon blindness comes from the ancient belief that the disease was associated with the changes of the lunar cycles. The "recurrent" or "periodic" part of the disease is the result of the propensity of this disease to recur in a rather unpredictable manner after the animal has once experienced the disease. The medically descriptive name for this disease is uveitis (pronounced you-vee-itis), and I will refer to it by that name for the rest of this article.

Read More...

---

Periodic Ophthalmia (Moon Blindness)
Written by Trevor Bailey

Periodic ophthalmia, otherwise known as recurrent uveitis, uveitis, or moon blindness, can be a devastating disease of the equine eye. It also, unfortunately, is a disease that we really don't know much about. The hypothetical causes have been sporadically researched over the years, but we aren't really much closer to understanding this inflammatory ocular disease.

MICHAEL A. BALL, DVM Classic appearance of long-standing uveitis. Note the scarring of the iris and the white reflective cataract.

The term moon blindness comes from the ancient belief that the disease was associated with the changes of the lunar cycles. The "recurrent" or "periodic" part of the disease is the result of the propensity of this disease to recur in a rather unpredictable manner after the animal has once experienced the disease. The medically descriptive name for this disease is uveitis (pronounced you-vee-itis), and I will refer to it by that name for the rest of this article.

Read More...

---

ESWG: National Animal Identification System to be Voluntary
Written by Trevor Bailey

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is emphasizing that the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) will be a voluntary program and that no plans are in place to make the program mandatory.

 

The NAIS has been a hot topic of discussion for the past few years concerning livestock--including horses. It is a system intended to control the spread of disease and to minimize the negative impact of a disease outbreak on the livestock industry. This would be done through the identification of premises that hold or manage livestock, animal identification and the recording of animal movements. Some states are mandating parts of the system within their state, for example mandatory premises registration in Wisconsin, but the NAIS as a national comprehensive program is not mandatory.

Read More...

---

ESWG: National Animal Identification System to be Voluntary
Written by Trevor Bailey

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is emphasizing that the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) will be a voluntary program and that no plans are in place to make the program mandatory.

 

The NAIS has been a hot topic of discussion for the past few years concerning livestock--including horses. It is a system intended to control the spread of disease and to minimize the negative impact of a disease outbreak on the livestock industry. This would be done through the identification of premises that hold or manage livestock, animal identification and the recording of animal movements. Some states are mandating parts of the system within their state, for example mandatory premises registration in Wisconsin, but the NAIS as a national comprehensive program is not mandatory.

Read More...

---

ESWG: National Animal Identification System to be Voluntary
Written by Trevor Bailey

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is emphasizing that the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) will be a voluntary program and that no plans are in place to make the program mandatory.

 

The NAIS has been a hot topic of discussion for the past few years concerning livestock--including horses. It is a system intended to control the spread of disease and to minimize the negative impact of a disease outbreak on the livestock industry. This would be done through the identification of premises that hold or manage livestock, animal identification and the recording of animal movements. Some states are mandating parts of the system within their state, for example mandatory premises registration in Wisconsin, but the NAIS as a national comprehensive program is not mandatory.

Read More...

---

Mosquito-borne Illness Threat Persists in Winter Temperatures
Written by Trevor Bailey

 

Although cooler temperatures have arrived in Florida, horses in the Sunshine State are still at risk for contracting potentially fatal mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus, University of Florida veterinarians and state officials warn.

"The National Weather Service is projecting a warmer than normal winter, so horse owners should not become complacent and make sure they vaccinate their horse," said Michael Short, DVM., equine programs manager for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Division of Animal Industry.
COURTESY SARAH CAREY/UF

Maureen Long, DVM., an associate professor of equine medicine and infectious disease specialist at the University of Florida's Veterinary Medical Center, monitors a mare and foal for the possible presence of disease in 2005..

---

Mosquito-borne Illness Threat Persists in Winter Temperatures
Written by Trevor Bailey

 

Although cooler temperatures have arrived in Florida, horses in the Sunshine State are still at risk for contracting potentially fatal mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus, University of Florida veterinarians and state officials warn.

"The National Weather Service is projecting a warmer than normal winter, so horse owners should not become complacent and make sure they vaccinate their horse," said Michael Short, DVM., equine programs manager for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Division of Animal Industry.
COURTESY SARAH CAREY/UF

Maureen Long, DVM., an associate professor of equine medicine and infectious disease specialist at the University of Florida's Veterinary Medical Center, monitors a mare and foal for the possible presence of disease in 2005..

---

Mosquito-borne Illness Threat Persists in Winter Temperatures
Written by Trevor Bailey

 

Although cooler temperatures have arrived in Florida, horses in the Sunshine State are still at risk for contracting potentially fatal mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus, University of Florida veterinarians and state officials warn.

"The National Weather Service is projecting a warmer than normal winter, so horse owners should not become complacent and make sure they vaccinate their horse," said Michael Short, DVM., equine programs manager for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Division of Animal Industry.
COURTESY SARAH CAREY/UF

Maureen Long, DVM., an associate professor of equine medicine and infectious disease specialist at the University of Florida's Veterinary Medical Center, monitors a mare and foal for the possible presence of disease in 2005..

---

The Horse Farms of Ocala, Florida
Written by Rick Short

Several weeks ago I took a Horse and Buggy Ride through the Country to tour some of the Horse Farms in Ocala, Florida. I have included a slideshow which can be found at my website, http://www.scenicearth.com/Ocala.asp. It was beautiful, romantic and a very relaxing morning. There was a cool breeze, spanish moss hanging from the trees, no rain and except for a few cars passing by, quiet and peaceful.

The hoofbeats on the pavement alone were very relaxing to hear and provided the soundtrack for our morning ride along with our driver serving as tour guide telling us about the neighboring farms and history behind them. The scenery was beautiful. We saw the horse farms that belong to Warner-Lambert Pharmaceuticals along with dozens of others whose names I cannot even remember there were so many.

When we got back from our horse and Buggie ride, Dan, the horse that was carrying us, walked right up to me and let me rub his face as my way of saying 'Thank you' for carrying us around all morning. It was quite humbling to see this huge, powerful animal that could drag a carriage filled with three people around the country for an hour with no effort at all, walk right up to me and show me such humble love and kindness.

If you ever want to visit 'Horse Country' in Florida, Ocala is the place to go. It is not like the rest of the state, growing and developing at the speed of sound. It is green, covered in white picket fences and has a slower paced lifestyle nestled away in a small town setting unlike Orlando and South Florida.

---

The Horse Farms of Ocala, Florida
Written by Rick Short

Several weeks ago I took a Horse and Buggy Ride through the Country to tour some of the Horse Farms in Ocala, Florida. I have included a slideshow which can be found at my website, http://www.scenicearth.com/Ocala.asp. It was beautiful, romantic and a very relaxing morning. There was a cool breeze, spanish moss hanging from the trees, no rain and except for a few cars passing by, quiet and peaceful.

The hoofbeats on the pavement alone were very relaxing to hear and provided the soundtrack for our morning ride along with our driver serving as tour guide telling us about the neighboring farms and history behind them. The scenery was beautiful. We saw the horse farms that belong to Warner-Lambert Pharmaceuticals along with dozens of others whose names I cannot even remember there were so many.

When we got back from our horse and Buggie ride, Dan, the horse that was carrying us, walked right up to me and let me rub his face as my way of saying 'Thank you' for carrying us around all morning. It was quite humbling to see this huge, powerful animal that could drag a carriage filled with three people around the country for an hour with no effort at all, walk right up to me and show me such humble love and kindness.

If you ever want to visit 'Horse Country' in Florida, Ocala is the place to go. It is not like the rest of the state, growing and developing at the speed of sound. It is green, covered in white picket fences and has a slower paced lifestyle nestled away in a small town setting unlike Orlando and South Florida.

---

The Horse Farms of Ocala, Florida
Written by Rick Short

Several weeks ago I took a Horse and Buggy Ride through the Country to tour some of the Horse Farms in Ocala, Florida. I have included a slideshow which can be found at my website, http://www.scenicearth.com/Ocala.asp. It was beautiful, romantic and a very relaxing morning. There was a cool breeze, spanish moss hanging from the trees, no rain and except for a few cars passing by, quiet and peaceful.

The hoofbeats on the pavement alone were very relaxing to hear and provided the soundtrack for our morning ride along with our driver serving as tour guide telling us about the neighboring farms and history behind them. The scenery was beautiful. We saw the horse farms that belong to Warner-Lambert Pharmaceuticals along with dozens of others whose names I cannot even remember there were so many.

When we got back from our horse and Buggie ride, Dan, the horse that was carrying us, walked right up to me and let me rub his face as my way of saying 'Thank you' for carrying us around all morning. It was quite humbling to see this huge, powerful animal that could drag a carriage filled with three people around the country for an hour with no effort at all, walk right up to me and show me such humble love and kindness.

If you ever want to visit 'Horse Country' in Florida, Ocala is the place to go. It is not like the rest of the state, growing and developing at the speed of sound. It is green, covered in white picket fences and has a slower paced lifestyle nestled away in a small town setting unlike Orlando and South Florida.

---

The Horse Farms of Ocala, Florida
Written by Rick Short

Several weeks ago I took a Horse and Buggy Ride through the Country to tour some of the Horse Farms in Ocala, Florida. I have included a slideshow which can be found at my website, http://www.scenicearth.com/Ocala.asp. It was beautiful, romantic and a very relaxing morning. There was a cool breeze, spanish moss hanging from the trees, no rain and except for a few cars passing by, quiet and peaceful.

The hoofbeats on the pavement alone were very relaxing to hear and provided the soundtrack for our morning ride along with our driver serving as tour guide telling us about the neighboring farms and history behind them. The scenery was beautiful. We saw the horse farms that belong to Warner-Lambert Pharmaceuticals along with dozens of others whose names I cannot even remember there were so many.

When we got back from our horse and Buggie ride, Dan, the horse that was carrying us, walked right up to me and let me rub his face as my way of saying 'Thank you' for carrying us around all morning. It was quite humbling to see this huge, powerful animal that could drag a carriage filled with three people around the country for an hour with no effort at all, walk right up to me and show me such humble love and kindness.

If you ever want to visit 'Horse Country' in Florida, Ocala is the place to go. It is not like the rest of the state, growing and developing at the speed of sound. It is green, covered in white picket fences and has a slower paced lifestyle nestled away in a small town setting unlike Orlando and South Florida.

---

Songs for the Horses
In category Article / News discussions
Written by Mary Alice Pollard, Cornwall's Voice for Anim

Introducing Maria Daines, singer/songwriter and friend of the animal.

www.maria-daines.com

Maria loves horses and has also been involved in the campaign to help STOP THE SLAUGHTER and she has recorded the most amazing songs
This, I WANNA RUN FREE is her most recent song: [ul]http://www.maria

---

My confidence is rubbish!
In category General Discussions
Written by jasmine balchin

well ive been riding for about 12 years (since i was 3 years old) im now 13, 14 in a few months. i really love horses n horse riding but my confidence is really rubbish . i will get spoked if the horse even moves a inch wile im groming him/her or if im riding n he.she is miving its tale, or moving its head or anything. i gte scared really easily. and allways end up not being able to xlean out a a

---

JJ Is Limping, HELP!!
In category Horse Health & Nutrition
Written by Trevor Bailey

JJ is 14 year old QH Geilding, he broke his left leg about six years ago right above the knee. He healed nice after the surgery which left 3 screws in his leg. He was able to run, lay down and get up without any problems. About a year ago he started with a limp. We called the vet and he said it was a absess. We called the farrier and he couldnt find no absess. The limp came and went for the first

---

Electrobraid fences...A cure-all 4 all ?
In category General Discussions
Written by Mary Sylvia Hines

Thought I would post this for those interested...this fence sounds like it would be a good investment for those that can afford it.......they have listed lots of surveys that they've done and have a very convincing video that consists of several different horse owners-breeders....some of their surveys also attribute these type fences as a remedy for deer crossing highways and interstates ...I kno

---

tmj
In category General Discussions
Written by Roxanne Danek

My 6 yr old gelding has been diagnosed & had an adjustment for TMJ. I would like to hear from other riders/owners that have dealt with this issue. We are riding Dressage & use the Bitless Bridle. I have found nothing online that states the Bitless Bridle can cause TMJ. Does anyone have any experience with this?

---

In response to "Bridles and Bits"
In category Horse Training
Written by Sheri

http://www.horsesring.com/articles/bridles-and-bits.html

In response to the article linked above...

I agree with the author for the most part about finding our natural balance and not relying on old traditions by following blindly in the footsteps of those before us, but consider the horse's back. Consider that some people DO believe in having respect with those tools (nosebands, for exampl

---

Overo Lethal White Syndrome
In category Horse Health & Nutrition
Written by Kerri Bell

Not a good week for me and my friend this week. We have mungrels breeding horses near my paddocks.. Beautiful paint mare gave birth to a lethal white foal.. Sad enough in its self... but do they put it down... NO..!!!! They left it to die in a paddock next to a well used road knowing it was sick and there was no help or hope.... These people were rung by upset neighbours and were told basicl

---

Newbie from Weirton Wv
In category Introductions
Written by Angel

HI my name is Angel and I am from Weirton West Virginia.

I do not own any horses but always had a passion for horses and animals as well. I own and run Isaac's Haven site that is for all pets not just one kind. To help rehome homeless pets all over the word. You can see it at www.isaacshaven.net.

I was born and raised in Pgh pa. Which I see so many from Pa wow. I grew up in the South Side a

---

Consider adopting your next horse
In category General Discussions
Written by Dot Morgan

There are so many high quality, sound, sane horses available for adoption. They come in all breeds and simply need a committed home. One especially good website for horse people with moderate experience is New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program: www.horseadoption.com They have about 25 available horses, all evaluated and started in their transition to pleasure mounts, for adoption fees of und

---

FALLING TEMPERATURES
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Online News


Baby, It's Cold Outside; Tips to Keep Horses Healthy in Falling Temperatures
by: Erin Ryder, Staff Writer
January 12 2007 Article # 8671

Article Tools



Something about cherry blossoms blooming in January had many of us looking over our shoulders and wondering when winter would arrive. Although much of the country has been experiencing a mild winter, some parts

---

to euthanize or not
In category General Discussions
Written by Sharon Lynn Martin

My 27-year-old gelding, Rio, is severely crippled by arthritis but able to walk a little Last Saturday he fell down in the pasture and needed help to stand up.
My veterinarian advised me earlier there would come a day when I must deside to put him to sleep, and that day was it. I told the barn manager I would call the vet on Monday.
Monday night the barn manager said he could place Rio in a pad

---

JAVA MONKEY FOR SALE!!!
In category Buy & Sell
Written by ASHLEY HANSIN

Hey Everybody,
I have a 6 yr. old Java Monkey for sale! Her name is Katie. We have owned her for sometime now. Katie loves to be read too. She also enjoys all the attention she can have and loves cooked food.
The price we are asking for is $3,500.00
Please feel free to contact!
King51

---

Starvation Case \"One of the Worst
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Online News


Agriculture Official: Ga. Starvation Case "One of the Worst Situations We've Ever Dealt With"
by: The Associated Press
January 31 2007 Article # 8845

Article Tools



More than 200 starving horses, cows, goats and dogs have been discovered on a Concord, Ga., farm.

Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin said complaints about the

---

N.J. Horse Fatally Shot
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

N.J. Horse Fatally Shot, Police Searching for Archer
by: Erin Ryder, Staff Writer
January 28 2007 Article # 8782

Article Tools

this was the horse my grandon competes on,we are devistated....

Police are searching for leads after a Franklin Township, N.J., horse was fatally shot with an arrow last Sunday (Jan. 21), the Gloucester County Times reported.

Cutie, a 9-year-old horse

---

Puerto Rican Horse
In category Horse Breeding
Written by Louise

I find these horses extremly fascinating to watch. Its a little crazy how fast they move their legs in the so called "walk". They race them.

Post edited by: Nippy, at: 2007/02/02 03:24

---

SLAUGHTER OPPOSING BAN
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Online News


Slaughter: Committee Leaders Issue Letter Opposing Ban
by: Erin Ryder, Staff Writer
January 26 2007 Article # 8766

Article Tools



Members of the House Committees on Agriculture and Energy and Commerce yesterday (Jan. 25) released a statement to Congress urging legislators to vote against the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which was re-introduced into t

---

HAY NEEDED
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Area Horsewomen Organizing Hay Caravan for Seized Maryland Horses
by: Erin Ryder, Staff Writer
January 26 2007 Article # 8776

Article Tools





A small group of Maryland women have organized a caravan of horse trailers to transport donated hay to the 72 horses seized by animal control authorities in Sharpsburg, Md., in early December.

The horses are in the custody of the Was

---

Heritage Auction
In category Buy & Sell
Written by randy

Heritage Antique, Animal & Mini Horse Sale Feb 21 - 24

For more info call Lonnie at 605-894-4299 or see http://nmarlee.midstatesd.net/auctionsales/Heritagesale/Heritagesale.htm

Heritage Western Antique Sale Feb 21 & 22, Mitchell SD
10:00 am Wednesday, Feb 21 is the Heritage consignment sale for numerous antique items like: Western Art & Decor, Indian Artifacts, Cast Iron Toys

---

Heritage Auction
In category General Discussions
Written by randy

Heritage Antique, Animal & Mini Horse Sale Feb 21 - 24

For more info call Lonnie at 605-894-4299 or see http://nmarlee.midstatesd.net/auctionsales/Heritagesale/Heritagesale.htm

Heritage Western Antique Sale Feb 21 & 22, Mitchell SD
10:00 am Wednesday, Feb 21 is the Heritage consignment sale for numerous antique items like: Western Art & Decor, Indian Artifacts, Cast Iron Toys

---

no more
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY



Post edited by: whinny, at: 2007/02/12 12:51

---

Slaughter Houses
In category Horse Health & Nutrition
Written by Ornetta

I'm not saying that I support Slaughter(i hate it really badly) but out of curiosity how many slaughter houses are left in America.. I think I read some-where that said only three slaughter houses are left...... how many are there? oh yea if you know how many slaughter houses there are in the world that would be great.. Horse slaughter houses I meant this whole entire time... And again i do not

---

legends
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Legend: A horse's legs are ground to stumps after the floor of the trailer it is being transported in rot away.
Examples:


[Healey & Glanvill, 1995]
A friend of a friend was the lad at a Devonshire racing stables where a 12-year-old horse, not exactly the Red Rum of its yard, was briefly reprieved from the knacker's to race over the jumps at a course 100 miles away.

The sorry

---

Woman Charged with Starving Deaths of Six Horses
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Online News


Woman Charged with Starving Deaths of Six Horses
by: The Associated Press
February 12 2007 Article # 8921

Article Tools



A Columbia Falls, Mont., woman is to appear March 1 in District Court in the starvation deaths of at least six horses and severe malnourishment of two others.

A ninth horse is missing.

Tina Pickton, also known as Tina Houston, 32, is ch

---

One Horse Dead, Another Injured in W.Va. Shooting
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

One Horse Dead, Another Injured in W.Va. Shooting
by: Erin Ryder, Staff Writer
February 15 2007 Article # 8944

Article Tools



One horse is dead and another has a bullet lodged in its back after a weekend shooting in Berkely County, W.Va., Martinsburg newspaper The Journal reported.

The horses' owner found the dead and injured horses when she went out to feed them on Saturday

---

Horse Rescued from Swimming Pool
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Online News


Horse Rescued from Swimming Pool
by: Erin Ryder, Staff Writer
February 16 2007 Article # 8951

Article Tools



A horse in Hampshire, U.K., was rescued Thursday (Feb. 15) after going for an accidental swim, the BBC reported. The mare escaped from her paddock and wandered into her neighbor's swimming pool.

According to the report, two fire engines, 15 firefight

---

what do cows eat( ya gotta read this
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

WHAT DO COWS EAT?

Were you under the mistaken impression that dairy cows ate
grass?

The March 25, 2002 issue of Hoard's Dairyman (the dairy
farmers magazine) reveals a mixed menu of gourmet foods in a
dairy cow's diet, including chicken feathers, blood, pork,
fish, and soybeans.

Does that grass-fed cow portrayed on a carton of milk
reflect what really goes into moo-juice?

Better

---

Neglect Case: Defense Team Questions Necessity of
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Online News


Ga. Neglect Case: Defense Team Questions Necessity of Seizure
by: Erin Ryder, Staff Writer
February 20 2007 Article # 8971

Article Tools



The debate over seizure of 99 horses from a Pike County, Ga., farm rages on. While a veterinarian and the Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture felt the seizure was the right thing to do, a family friend and the lawyer for the t

---

Convicted Pony Shooter Faces False Information Cha
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Online News


Convicted Pony Shooter Faces False Information Charge
by: The Associated Press
February 20 2007 Article # 8976

Article Tools



A man who fatally shot his stepmother's pony was charged with giving police false information during that investigation.

John Dominic Juliano, 23, of Sherman, N.Y., was sentenced to five to 20 months in the Erie County Prison after be

---

animal planet sporthorse cup
In category General Discussions
Written by Kate Baker

Did anyone else watch the animal planet sport horse cup today?
Wow could you amagine jumping over a six foot three inche jump?!?!
Then Laura Kraut lost her iron right before she went over a jump!
I like Beezie the most. if you watched who did you like?

---

\" Crazy Horse \" Part 2
In category General Discussions
Written by Karla Kingery

As i was watching Emillio and his calf i observed the neighbors Pit bull come into the pasture. As he does quite often. Only this time he headed right for the calf. He chased it around niping its heels. Emillio got quite upset. I ran out and chased the dog away. By the time i got back to the house he was back. I then went to neighbor and informed him his dog was chaseing the calf. He c

---

Bad situation for a couple horses at my barn
In category General Discussions
Written by anne knight

There are two horses at my barn who have owners that think it's ok to leave for a week and leave their horses in the barn for the whole time without having the stalls cleaned. Amazingly, the woman who owns the barn let them do this since she only cares about the money she's making, obviously, and not the animals. The barn owner was instructed by the owners to feed these ho

---

Illinois Horse Slaughter Bill Introduced
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Illinois Horse Slaughter Bill Introduced
by: Chad Mendell, Managing Editor
February 26 2007 Article # 9006





An Illinois State Representative introduced a bill on Feb. 22 that would prohibit the transportation of horses in the state for the purpose of slaughter for human consumption.

State Rep. Robert Molaro (D-Chicago), who sponsored the bill (H.B. 1171), said, "It doe

---

Management Team Kills Wolf After Cattle Attacked,
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Online News


Injured
by: The Associated Press
February 22 2007 Article # 8985
Management Team Kills Wolf After Cattle Attacked, Horse




An endangered Mexican gray wolf that apparently killed three calves in southwest New Mexico has been fatally shot by the team that manages the animals.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a removal order for the wild-born member of

---

true story
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

NOW THIS IS DRUNK:
A man goes to a party and has too much to drink. His friends plead with him to let them take him home. He says NO -- he only lives a mile away.
About five blocks from the party, the police pull him over. They check his license and ask him to get out of the car and walk the line. Just as he starts, the police radio blares out a notice of a robbery taking place in a house arou

---

LIFE ON WHINNY HILL FARM
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

HAY?WATCHYALOOKENAT???? JACKY AND JEN( JENNY LEFT US THIS YEAR AT THE AGE OF 42.)


THIS MOM SHOPS AT WALMART


I CAN FLY I REALLY REALLY CAN.IM LIL RIVER AND I CAN FLYYYYY
[IMG size=450]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/

---

Abandoned Ponies, Donkey, Other Animals Await Adop
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Online News


Abandoned Ponies, Donkey, Other Animals Await Adoption
by: The Associated Press
March 11 2007 Article # 9112

Article Tools



Wanted: a good home for 23 neglected and abandoned ponies, 10 dogs, some goats, and one donkey.

The animals were rescued Mar. 7 from a ranch in Menifee, Calif., where they were abandoned several weeks ago. A concerned resident contacted

---

Animal Identification Group Deactivates
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Animal Identification Group Deactivates
by: Pat Raia
March 06 2007 Article # 9020

Article Tools



A nonprofit organization established to compile a national identification database for livestock, including horses, was rendered "inactive" in January--just one year after its founding--because it was ahead of its time, said a spokesperson for the National Cattlemen's Beef

---

Horses, Humans Survive Rollover Trailer Accident
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Online News


Horses, Humans Survive Rollover Trailer Accident
by: Erin Ryder, Staff Writer
March 01 2007 Article # 9049

Article Tools



Two horses and two humans involved in a rollover accident on I-75 in Florida yesterday (Feb. 28) survived, The Charlotte-Sun reported. According to the report, a tread separated on the hauling vehicle's tire, causing the driver to lose contro

---

Horse Euthanatized After Attack by Dogs
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Horse Euthanatized After Attack by Dogs
by: The Associated Press
February 28 2007 Article # 9031

Article Tools



A Spokane Valley, Wash., racehorse attacked by two pit bull terriers was so badly injured it had to be euthanatized, its owners said. The dogs were ordered destroyed Tuesday after they were deemed to be dangerous.

The horse, named Drink the Wind, won 22 races during h

---

save our horses
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

http://www.animalhubbub.com/2007/03/14/save-our-horses-take-action/ go to this sight and watch the vidio
Mar 14th 2007 3:24PM46 comments | posted by PetsMiouSave Our Horses: Take Action
I was thrilled to read that the Humae Society of the United States, a major force in helping to pass legislation to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption, announced

---

Kentucky Swamped With Unwanted Horses
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Updated:2007-03-15 02:33:46
Kentucky Swamped With Unwanted Horses
By JEFFREY McMURRAY
AP
STAFFORDSVILLE, Ky. (March 15) - The bidding for the black pony started at $500, then took a nosedive.


Downside of Slaughter Ban?
Opposition to slaughtering horses is hitting farmers in the pocketbook.

More Coverage: Save Horses

Talk About It: Post Thoughts

There were no takers at $300, $2

---

TX, TN, WA Residents: Take Action to Help Animals
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Texas: Don't Legalize Horse Slaughter for Human Consumption!
Last week, the Federal Court of Appeals (5th Circuit) agreed with the District Court’s ruling that the only two slaughterhouses in Texas were violating state law by slaughtering horses for human consumption. Unfortunately, allies of the horse slaughter industry have introduced legislation (HB 2476 and compani

---

As sponsors of the American Horse Slaughter Preven
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

From Today's New York Times
To the Editor:

As sponsors of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, we take issue with Christa Weil’s views on the horsemeat industry (Op-Ed, March 5). The horse slaughter industry in the United States has nothing to do with feeding hungry people and everything to do with animal cruelty. The facts are these:
¶Most horses that end up slaughtered are bought

---

INT\'L FUND FOR HORSES
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

INT'L FUND FOR HORSES
The Mission of the Int'l Fund for Horses is to promote and safeguard the health, safety and welfare of equines worldwide, domestic and in the wild.

Saturday, March 10, 2007
NY Times Op-Ed

To the Editor:

As sponsors of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, we take issue with Christa Weil’s views on the horsemeat industry (Op-Ed, March 5). The horse slaugh

---

horse therapy
In category General Discussions
Written by katherine alexander

I am taking a class in animal therapy and am now starting my horse therapy internship.
I could use some photos of horse therapy or riders on horse back for my Horse therapy Journal that is part of my course work . I thought some photos would be a nice touch.
I can not photograph our clients at the stables ( medical privacy laws for patients) but if anyone would like me to add the

---

Pet Goats.
In category General Discussions
Written by Abby

This is my goat Scruffy she is an Angora and is almost 11 now. I was just wondering who else had a pet goat?

Post edited by: Dasho, at: 2007/03/22 08:12

---

About you!
In category General Discussions
Written by Carissa



Hello everyone. I decided to make my first topic. And i want to hear about you. Anything you wanna say. I want to hear about every animal you own! Make sure you say their name!

---

Humane Society Refutes Horse Abandonment Claims
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Humane Society Refutes Horse Abandonment Claims
by: Edited Press Release
March 18 2007 Article # 9150

Article Tools



The Humane Society of the United States released a statement on March 16 stating that recent claims that thousands of horses have been abandoned in Kentucky are unfounded, and is calling it a campaign of fear mongering by a foreign-owned horse slaughter industry th

---

Photos
In category General Discussions
Written by Riet

Hi everybody

I would like to draw everyone's attention to the posting of photos on this forum

Since its software is getting heavier (and therefore slower) when 'outside links' (like photobucket etc.) are used for posting photos here, may I please ask everybody to make use of the 'attach image file' option given below the textbox you're typing your message in -

that way it will b

---

Keep Old Horses Healthy
In category General Discussions
Written by WHINNY

Keep Old Horses Healthy

"How do we tell when a horse is aged?" asked Nancy Loving, DVM, who owns Loving Equine Clinic in Boulder, Colo., at the recent Healthy Horses Workshop for horse owners (held Dec. 2 in San Antonio, Texas, in conjunction with the 52nd annual American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention). "Most people think a horse is old once he's over 20 yea

---